In New Hampshire, biobased itaconic acid producer Itaconix is planning to double its staff after inking separate development partnerships with AkzoNobel and Croda.
Co-founder and CEO John Shaw tells the Union Leader the company will hire at least eight employees at its Stratham facility.
Itaconix polymerizes itaconic acid for use in laundry and automatic dishwashing detergents. The company is also pursuing odor removal applications for carpet and pet products.
Under the terms of its agreement with AkzoNobel, Itaconix will provide its polymerization technology to the Dutch chemicals giant. The deal with Croda involves market development and supply of Itaxonix’s odor-removal additive.
Cofounder Yvon Durant was a professor at University of New Hampshire, from which Itaconix has hired graduates in science and chemical engineering.