Lanxess cooperates with biotechnology expert Evocatal in the development of biotechnological methods for the synthesis of precursors for the rubber production.

The goal of the project is to make use of local renewable materials in the manufacture of rubber upstream products. Until now, rubber manufacturers have worked exclusively with fossil-based materials.

Now the two partners will be developing a biological method to help preserve resources and reduce emissions. The cooperation aims at identifying new pathways for synthesis and developing effective biocatalysts.

Launched in September 2011, the partnership is part of the "ThRuBio" project (Thermoplastics and Rubber via Biotechnological Synthesis), a research consortium that includes Evonik, Lanxess and the Technical University of Munich.

The research project, which is slated to continue until 2014, is receiving support from the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) via the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR).