4 minutes with… Ian McGregor, CTO, Drystill Technologies

March 11, 2015 |

3b13d22Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

Drystill has developed a new distillation technique needed by the BioTech industry. It can gently remove alcohols from live fermentation broths at room temperature, preserving bio-catalysts and enzymes. It accomplishes this separation using less than half the energy of ordinary distillation.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

Distillation is a key step in most Biotech operations that governs much of the process design and economics. An advance in this area is something the industry needs to hear about. My most important role over the next 12 months will be to communicate the good news that there is finally a cheaper, better alternative to the distillation techniques that the Industry up until now has been forced to put up with.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?  

There are economic performance indicators that must be met before investors will have the confidence necessary for the successful development of the industry. These indicators originate in plant economics, and gains must come from multiple technical milestones. I mention widespread recycling of enzymes as an example.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

I believe that mankind’s transition toward renewable industrial feed-stocks is the most important activity on the planet, and I want to contribute.

Where are you from? 

I was born in Edmonton Alberta and raised near Toronto Ontario.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?

I am a Rotarian and sing tenor in a Barbershop Chorus.

Category: Million Minds

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