TetraVitae Bioscience

TetraVitae Bioscience, founded in 2006, operated as a biotechnology firm focused on developing renewable, bio-based chemicals as alternatives to petroleum-derived products. The company's core technological strength was a patented, non-genetically modified organism—a mutant strain of *Clostridium Beijerinckii* discovered by University of Illinois professor Hans Blaschek. This organism was central to a proprietary fermentation process designed to produce bio-based n-butanol and acetone from biomass substrates.

The company's business model centered on leveraging its specialized fermentation technology to lower the production costs of these chemicals, aiming to compete directly with traditional petrochemicals. TetraVitae's process was engineered for low-capital implementation, allowing for the potential retrofit of existing ethanol production facilities. Key milestones included a successful pilot trial in December 2010 at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, where the company retrofitted a corn dry-mill facility to produce bio n-butanol. Following this, the raw chemicals were purified in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin's Separations Research Program.

The primary products developed were bio n-butanol and bio-acetone, which serve as crucial solvents and precursors for monomers in paint resins and coatings. The technology also enabled the production of other chemicals like 2-ethyl hexanol for coatings and 1-butene, a comonomer used in manufacturing common plastics. On November 2, 2011, Eastman Chemical Company acquired the assets of TetraVitae Bioscience, integrating its technology and personnel into its subsidiary, Eastman Renewable Materials, LLC, to bolster its sustainable product offerings. Prior to the acquisition, TetraVitae had raised a total of $9.6 million in funding from investors including 180 Degree Capital, Illinois Ventures, and RPM Ventures.

Keywords: bio-based chemicals, industrial biotechnology, fermentation technology, n-butanol, bio-acetone, Clostridium Beijerinckii, biomass substrates, petrochemical alternatives, renewable chemicals, microbial fermentation, chemical engineering, sustainable materials, asset acquisition, Eastman Chemical, Hans Blaschek, ethanol facility retrofit, bioplastics, biofuels, renewable solvents, cellulosic feedstocks