Kemvera advances U.S. bio-based chemical production with corn-derived acetic acid, scaling commercialization and supporting domestic supply chains and farmers.
Kemvera, formerly known as New Iridium and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has successfully completed its front-end engineering design (FEL 1) for a planned commercial-scale facility capable of producing 50,000 metric tons of bio-based chemicals annually. To support the scale-up of this facility, the company has also finalized the design of a 500 metric tons per year pre-commercial demonstration reactor. Additionally, Kemvera recently commissioned its 20 metric tons per year pilot reactor, confirming its operational robustness through continuous operation trials. These accomplishments mark significant milestones in the development of Kemvera’s bio-based acetic acid and ethyl acetate production process and represent a substantial step toward full-scale commercialization.
In conjunction with these developments, the company has rebranded from New Iridium to Kemvera, signaling its commitment to advancing bio-based chemical solutions that leverage domestically sourced agricultural feedstocks. Kemvera’s proprietary catalytic platform is designed to convert bio-based and CO2-derived inputs, such as corn ethanol produced in the United States, into cost-effective, drop-in chemical products. The technology is approaching commercial readiness rapidly, positioning Kemvera to provide support to American farmers, strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, and maintain the United States’ leadership in bio-based chemical production.
The U.S. chemical manufacturing sector is one of the largest in the country, yet it remains heavily dependent on petroleum-derived feedstocks. Industry projections indicate that the domestic green chemicals market will grow to USD 7.46 billion by 2033, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% from 2025. To capitalize on this expanding market, Kemvera is creating a vertically integrated and sustainable value chain that links ethanol producers and agricultural stakeholders, moving resources from Midwest cornfields directly to industrial end users.
“Achieving these milestones brings us significantly closer to delivering products to customers,” said Dr. Chern-Hooi Lim, Founder and CEO of Kemvera. “This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of first-principles research and engineering in scaling affordable chemical production from American-grown feedstocks. Our rebranding to Kemvera underscores this pivotal moment in our journey.”
Support for bio-based chemicals derived from domestic corn is echoed by industry partners. Joe Roberts, President of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and a farmer in Belmond, Iowa, stated, “Developments like these create high-value markets for corn, strengthen rural economies, and expand the impact of corn ethanol by fostering domestic bio-manufacturing. Converting corn into essential industrial products reinforces U.S. agriculture’s role in meeting rising market demand.”
Kemvera anticipates initial applications of its flagship bio-acetic acid and bio-ethyl acetate products in footwear, disinfectants, and other consumer goods. By utilizing domestically sourced bio-based feedstocks, the company offers chemical manufacturers and brand owners dependable alternatives to fossil-based chemicals while enhancing U.S. supply chain resilience. Kemvera is actively raising Series A funding and seeking partnerships with ethanol producers, chemical companies, and consumer brands. Through anchoring production in renewable American agricultural resources, the company aims to generate new demand for domestically produced chemicals and reduce dependence on imported or petroleum-derived products.
