Pyran

Pyran is a chemical company focused on producing 5-carbon (C5) products from renewable, agricultural feedstocks like corn cobs. The company originated from technology developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by Dr. Kevin Barnett, Professor George Huber, and Dr. Kefeng Huang. Barnett, driven by a desire for sustainability within the chemical engineering field, co-founded the company in 2017 after developing the core technology during his Ph.D. studies under Professor Huber. The technology was licensed through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), a long-term investor in the company.

Pyran's business model centers on its proprietary catalytic process that converts biomass into 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO), a key ingredient in materials such as paints, coatings, adhesives, and plastics. The company's process offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based chemicals, positioning it to serve manufacturers seeking to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and decrease reliance on volatile oil feedstocks. Pyran's 1,5-PDO is marketed as a cost-effective solution, priced significantly below competing petroleum-derived products. The company generates revenue by selling its bio-based products to industrial clients and is scaling production to meet customer demand, with plans for a commercial plant to be operational in 2027.

The company's core product is a bio-based 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO) that provides performance benefits in heat, water, oil, and weather resistance. Pyran's key differentiator is its ability to produce these 5-carbon molecules intentionally and cost-effectively from renewable sources, something difficult to achieve with traditional petroleum extraction. The technology has been validated through demonstration-scale production, yielding several tons of product for customer qualification. Having secured nearly $12.5 million in total investments and grants from entities including the National Science Foundation, Arosa Capital, and Kowa Company, Pyran is focused on commercialization. The company has completed its REACH registration in Europe, a key step for market access.

Keywords: 1,5-pentanediol, renewable chemicals, biomass conversion, sustainable chemistry, bio-based materials, green chemistry, corn cobs, ag-waste feedstock, specialty chemicals, catalytic process, biorefinery, C5 chemicals, diols, sustainable manufacturing, chemical engineering, polyurethane, polyester polyols, coatings, adhesives, plastics