Myriant Technologies LLC Announces Next-Generation Cellulosic Biorefinery Pilot Plant

Myriant Technologies LLC Announces Next-Generation Cellulosic Biorefinery
Pilot Plant

QUINCY, Mass., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Myriant Technologies LLC (Myriant), a
privately-held, biotech developer and manufacturer of next-generation,
renewable biochemicals, announced its collaboration, along with the University
of Florida's (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Buckeye
Technologies Inc., for a first-of-its-kind biorefinery pilot project to be
located in Perry, Florida. The 5 ton per day facility will produce both
high-value specialty chemicals and biofuels from cellulosic materials,
demonstrating the path to maximize value in a renewable, sustainable manner.

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The plant will be located at Buckeye's Perry, Florida facility and will be
built with the aid of $20 million previously allocated by the Florida
Legislature. The project will utilize UF-developed technologies to produce
biobased chemicals with broad market applications, licensed exclusively to
Myriant, as well as biofuels. With UF scientists operating the ethanol
research platform, UF will be able to fulfill its research commitment to this
technology; Myriant will operate the specialty chemicals component of the
Project.

"The joint production of biochemicals and biofuels under one roof produces
superior financial results compared to fuels alone," said Stephen J. Gatto,
Myriant Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The Project will utilize the
diversified model developed by the oil industry and apply it to clean,
renewable feedstocks, delivering on the promise of independence from foreign
oil and reduced greenhouse gas emissions via sustainable economic returns.
The dream of producing fuels, chemicals and power from renewable materials is
now a reality."

The partnership possesses strengths in every category necessary for the
success of the Project. The University of Florida's research program was the
first to achieve success in the processing of cellulosic sugars and the
metabolic conversion of those sugars into fuels and chemicals. Buckeye
Technologies provides the ideal site and infrastructure for the Project, and
is at the forefront of the paper industry in maximizing use and value of
cellulosic feedstocks.

Myriant adds its own exceptional research to the equation, as well as the
demonstrated capability to utilize the tools of the Pilot Project to refine
the processes and substantiate commercial viability. "This is not research for
the sake of research," added Gatto. "Myriant's participation will ensure that
our extensive pipeline of specialty chemicals is developed to demonstrate
market requirements for rapid deployment, exactly as we've done with our prior
commercialization of D(-) lactic acid and our forthcoming succinic acid
products."

The Project will be capable of producing in excess of 140,000 gallons of
biofuels or 1,000 tons of biobased chemicals annually from a variety of
feedstocks, including wood, sugar cane bagasse and sweet sorghum. The
groundbreaking is planned for this fall, with start of operations scheduled
for 2010.

With a world-renowned team of molecular biologists, engineers and chemists,
Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to advance the development of low-cost
cellulosic sugars for the sustainable commercialization of high-value
specialty chemicals. The company's D(-) lactic acid started production at
commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Headquartered in
Quincy, Massachusetts, Myriant also has a fully integrated, state-of-the-art,
18,000 square foot laboratory located in nearby Woburn.

Contact: Samuel G. McConnell, Sr.VP, Corporate Development, (617) 657-5207

SOURCE Myriant Technologies LLC

Samuel G. McConnell, Sr.VP, Corporate Development, of Bio Energy
International, LLC, +1-617-657-5207