Scottish pact looks to boost chitin as biopolymer

In Scotland,  global consulting and engineering company Wood has partnered with CuanTec Ltd. to develop separation facilities that will process shellfish waste to extract chitin, a compostable biopolymer with a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries.

The contract will see Wood provide the front-end engineering design to deliver modifications for CuanTec’s newly acquired separation plant in Glenrothes, Scotland, followed by the expansion of that facility. Wood will then continue to provide the FEED, engineering, procurement and construction of additional new production facilities in the UK and globally which will enable mass production of CuanTec’s ultra-pure chitin and chitin-based products.

 “Given the importance of this work to CuanTec, we went through a very intensive process to find the right engineering firm who could not only deliver the high level of technical expertise needed for this project, but who could also partner with us on our future projects as we expand globally,” says Craig Sterling, CEO of CuanTec, in a press statement. “Wood has the expertise, technical team, and global reach to do just that. I am delighted that we were able to reach agreement with Wood and look forward to the partnership as we move forward.”

This contract will be delivered by Wood’s engineering team in Glasgow, part of the company’s Operations business unit, on a reimbursable basis.