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Midland, Michigan
September 21, 2001
The
Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) has been awarded nearly $5
million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for research on
making plastics and chemicals from renewable plant oils such as
castor seed oil. Details of the program, which is
expected to last four years, are still being negotiated. Subject
to congressional appropriations, federal government funding for
the work is expected to be $4,767,770, which is 50% of the
program's cost.
The project brings together Dow; Castor Oil, Inc. of Plainview,
TX; and the United States Department of Agriculture's Western
Regional Research Center (WRRC) of Albany, CA, to work on
improving properties of plant oils so that industry can more
easily substitute them for petrochemical-based raw materials.
"Success with this research will allow us to produce new
products for our customers. In addition to helping meet customer
needs, these products will have the advantage of being produced
from a renewable, crop-based resource," said Carolyn Fritz,
Global Business Director for Dow's Industrial Biotechnology
Business.
The plant-oil award is among six major awards totaling $30
million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop
process technology for the production of chemicals, plastics,
materials and other products from plant matter and natural waste
materials and establish university education and training
programs in bioproducts. The projects address areas identified
in the National Energy Plan for increasing development of
bioproducts and bioenergy.
Castor is already an established industrial crop in countries
other than the U.S. Castor oil is used in paints, coatings and
specialty nylons, but in its current form cannot produce
properties suitable for wide use in plastics and chemicals. Dow
will work on the chemistry of the oils, and work with Castor
Oil, Inc. and the WRRC to develop new castor varieties and
improved agricultural technologies.
More information about the DOE's bioproducts initiative is
available at
www.oit.doe.gov/agriculture .
Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides
innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and
services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales
of $30 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries
and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress,
including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal
and home care, and building and construction, among others.
Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and
its approximately 50,000 employees seek to balance economic,
environmental and social responsibilities. For more information,
visit www.dow.com .
Company news release
N3822
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