| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder(s) | Patrick Foody |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Products | cellulosic ethanol xylanase enzymes Trichoderma reesei |
| Employees | ca. 325 |
| Website | www.iogen.ca |
Iogen Corporation is a Canadian company based in Ottawa, Ontario that was founded by Patrick Foody. Iogen is a company specializing in cellulosic ethanol made from farm waste. They also develop, manufacture, and market enzymes used to modify and improve the processing of natural fibres in the textile, animal feed, and pulp and paper industries. Iogen has been in operation since 1974. Brian Foody is the current president.
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The company has built the world's first and only demonstration-scale facility to convert biomass to cellulose ethanol, using enzyme technology. The facility has been designed and engineered to process 40 tons per day of wheat straw, using enzymes made in an adjacent enzyme manufacturing facility.
In the long term, Iogen intends to commercialize its cellulose ethanol process by licensing its technology broadly through turnkey plant construction partnerships. License fees and the supply of enzymes to the licensees’ plants will generate income. If the firm is successful, the process will allow fuel alcohol to be made from abundant plant waste instead of food grade corn.
Iogen also operates an established specialty enzymes business built on its cellulose ethanol technology. Iogen's Bio-Products business focuses on improving the operation of industries that process natural fibre. The company makes and sells high-quality enzymes that are used by industries including pulp and paper, textile, and animal feed. The expertise and operating experience gained in the enzyme business is an important element of Iogen's leadership in cellulose ethanol technology.
Iogen employs a staff of approximately 325 people, with over half involved in research and development, and engineering; one fifth in manufacturing; and the balance in sales, marketing, and administration.
With backing from Shell Canada and Petro Canada the company is building a $500 million commercial scale plant in Saskatchewan, to produce 90 megalitre/year of cellulosic ethanol from wheat straw.[1]