Welcome to CBiRC

The Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) is developing the tools, components and materials needed to transform carbohydrate feedstocks into biobased chemicals (video). Core know-how and technologies include bioengineering of fatty acid and polyketide biochemistry in microorganisms, as well as an innovative and complementary portfolio of developments in chemical catalysis. By combining biocatalysis and chemical catalysis CBiRC creates new know-how and powerful systems that have the potential to nurture a sustainable biobased chemical industry. CBiRC believes it can enable the growth of the nascent biobased chemical industry with key biobased foundational intermediates that deliver an array of drop-in chemistry or similar functionality to existing fossil-carbon-based chemicals.

Researchers develop, test new system for making biorenewable chemicals

10-16-2018 by Mike Krapfl, News Service AMES, Iowa – Researchers will test a new way of producing biobased chemicals that’s backed by 10 years of working in laboratories, partnering with industries and launching startups. The researchers’ work is based on the concept that certain “bioprivileged molecules” have unique properties and can be efficiently converted to chemical products. […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Iowa State University Updates

Iowa State University is monitoring and responding to the outbreak of COVID-19, please refer to the University updates and resources page.

Sundeep Vani Joins Iowa State University as Chief Technology Officer for Biobased Products

10-25-2019 By Dan Kirkpatrick, Office of the Vice President for Research Sundeep Vani has joined Iowa State University to serve in the newly created role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Biobased Products, part of the State of Iowa’s Biosciences-based economic growth initiative. In his role as CTO, Vani will serve as a conduit between […]