Ashland acquires AkzoNobel's Zeta Fraction biofunctional technology

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a producer of biofunctional ingredients, on July 2, 2015 signed a definitive agreement to buy the Zeta Fraction technology from AkzoNobel. The acquisition will broaden Ashland's value-added portfolio in the personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and agriculture markets.
 
The patented Zeta Fraction process and technology selectively isolates efficacious components from living plants and marine sources to produce a wide range of biofunctional ingredients. Targeted cellular fractions are gently separated based on unique patented technology, preserving the inherent value of the plant cell juice. Conventional plant extraction technology isolates botanical extracts from dried plants and uses external solvents that limit shelf life stability and reproducibility, among other limitations.
 
“As global consumers increasingly ask for more sophisticated personal-care products, Ashland is bringing enterprise solutions to finished product manufacturers for implementation across their product platforms. This unique, naturally based technology is a catalyst to expand Ashland's comprehensive expertise in biofunctionals gained from our Vincience technology and our core competency in bioavailability,” said James Mish, group vice president, consumer specialties, Ashland Specialty Ingredients.
 
Creating enterprise-level solutions in key areas of consumer care requires leadership in ingredient technology, applications development, formulations and consumer science. Ashland has integrated all of these capabilities in-house and has organised them in a way that enables the company to bring forward solutions for large-scale adoption and implementation.
 
“The Zeta Fraction technology, when combined with Ashland's ongoing work and recent investments in biofunctionals, will better position the company for growth in the natural-based specialty ingredients market,” said Ashland in a press release.