Nobel Prize winner takes part in biorefinery joint venture in Indonesia

“Green” chemist and 2005 Nobel Prize awardee for chemistry, Robert Grubbs, is part of a joint venture to launch a biorefinery in Indonesia which will supply chemicals and fuels from palm oil, mustard and soybean plants. Elevance Renewable Sciences, a company that creates a range of valued specialty chemicals from natural oils, issued a press release saying the goods manufactured at the facility are designed to be vital components of surfactants, lubricants, antimicrobials, renewable biodiesel and green jet fuels. Grubbs, a 70-year old scientist from California, is also working on ways to convert plant products into fuel, and to manufacture compounds similar to insect pheromones which would be used as pesticide replacements. (June 27, 2012)