Synata Bio
Americas
Chicago
,
United States
Established
FOUNDED
2016
HEADCOUNT
21-100
FUNDING
Privately held
Keywords:
gas_fermentation, bacteria, CO2_utilization, biofuels, SAF, commodity_chemicals
BUSINESS
Founded circa 2016 when it acquired Coskata Inc.'s gas fermentation technology and IP. The company uses proprietary non-GMO acetogenic bacteria to convert synthesis gas (CO, CO2, H2) and industrial waste gases into ethanol in a single-step anaerobic fermentation process. The business model is technology licensing rather than owned production; Synata licenses its biocatalyst, media, process, and reactor design to partners and provides engineering and operational support. The company's first commercial plant is the Sylonto joint venture in China, targeting 50,000 tonnes/year of ethanol from waste gases. Target feedstocks include steel mill off-gases, petrochemical waste gases, biogenic CO2 streams, and purpose-made syngas from biomass gasification. SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) is a downstream application via ethanol-to-jet conversion.
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Synata Bio uses proprietary non-GMO acetogenic microorganisms (originally developed from the Coskata/University of Oklahoma lineage) that fix CO and CO2 via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway to produce ethanol. The company's IP covers the biocatalyst, fermentation media, proprietary bioreactor design optimized for gas-liquid mass transfer, and overall process integration.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
gas fermentation; proprietary technology
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Low-carbon ethanol; sustainable aviation fuel; renewable diesel; circular chemicals (ethylene, propylene)