Ashland Specialty Ingredients has agreed to purchase the Zeta Fraction technology from AkzoNobel. The acquisition further broadens Ashland’s portfolio in the personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and agriculture markets.
The award winning and patented Zeta Fraction process and technology selectively isolates 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,” explains the company.
"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.
During the in-cosmetics show held earlier this year in Barcelona, Spain, Ashland provided insight about the future of products based on enhanced ingredient delivery in skin, scalp, hair and oral-care applications. At that time, Ashland’s Vincience research centre in Sophia Antipolis, France, introduced Elixiance biofunctional, a new ecological and sustainable ingredient for skin-care products to help reduce the effects of pollution on skin.
Combined with Ashland’s ongoing work and recent investments in biofunctionals, the Zeta Fraction technology should therefore better position Ashland for growth in the natural-based specialty ingredients market.
The transaction is expected to be completed during the current fiscal quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed.
