American Science and Technology Adds World-Wide Biopolymer Expert, Jim Lunt, as Consultant
Chicago, IL, July 21, 2014 (Newswire.com) - American Science and Technology (AST) announces that it has added Dr. Jim Lunt, one of the world's leading experts in biopolymer commercial development, to its team as a consultant, to assist AST in developing aggressive marketing and business strategies.
Dr. Lunt has served as the head of product development for NatureWorks, LLC, directing the product development activities which laid the foundation for NatureWorks to become a multimillion dollar business. Prior to NatureWorks, Dr. Lunt pioneered the development and commercialization of TPEs, vulcanized polyolefins, environmentally-friendly phenolic foams, and long glass fiber reinforced thermoplastics. In recognition of his significant contributions to the PLA process, Dr. Lunt was awarded the Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2002.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Jim,” explains AST President and CEO, Dr. Ali Manesh. “Jim has an extensive background in polymer chemistry and unique expertise in developing and executing sound and effective business strategies. His past work with NatureWorks will be an invaluable asset in guiding AST’s growth and expansion.”
Founded in 2003, American Science and Technology Corporation is a Chicago-based full service engineering company focused on converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-value chemicals and products. AST has been utilizing its complete and integrated biorefinery facilities (located in Wausau, WI) to develop a highly sustainable and economically viable organosolv process to convert cellulosic biomass into highly refined fermentable sugars, pure lignin, high quality pulp, and organic solvents. AST's cellulosic sugars and lignin are key intermediate products in supply chains for producing bio-chemicals, plastics, bio-fuels, and nutritional supplements for food. As a result of its ongoing collaboration with the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP), AST and UWSP were awarded approximately $2.8 million in November of 2013, as part of a $22.5 million initiative by the University of Wisconsin System institutions, to scale up AST’s processing capability from 200 pounds of lignocellulosic biomass per day to 2 tons per day. The new scaled-up bio-refinery pilot plant will come on-line in 2015.
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