Trillium Secures $13M to Scale Bio-Based Acrylonitrile, Cutting Industrial Emissions

The chemicals industry, which accounts for about 5% of global emissions, often operates as an opaque system. Fossil fuel-based feedstocks are transformed into everyday products like plastic toys, agricultural fertilizer, and laundry detergent. Yet the critical middle stage—where Trillium Renewable Chemicals is making its mark—remains largely unseen.

Trillium is scaling production of bio-based acrylonitrile, a chemical intermediate used to manufacture carbon fiber aircraft components, plastic Lego bricks, and rubber medical gloves. Acrylonitrile’s production is a major contributor to the embedded emissions of these products, as it is typically derived from propylene, a byproduct of the oil and gas industry.

“When you look at the lifecycle analysis of these products, the thing that jumps off the page is acrylonitrile dominates that lifecycle,” said Corey Tyree, CEO of Trillium. “It is the number one challenge.”

From Research to Commercialization

The startup, which spun out of the Department of Energy-funded Southern Research Institute, recently announced a $13 million Series B funding round led by HS Hyosung Advanced Materials. The round follows the completion of the world’s first demonstration plant for bio-based acrylonitrile.

Tyree emphasized his commitment to ensuring the project did not remain “just another research project that goes in the research closet.” He credits Trillium’s progress to its relentless focus on commercialization and the risk tolerance inherent to startups.

“A lot of these tries happen inside of a large company, which is not as tolerant for risk,” Tyree explained. “But with investors lined up behind the effort, it doesn’t feel to any one person that if we’re wrong, our whole career is going to go up in flames.”

Technical Breakthroughs and Future Plans

Southern Research developed a proprietary catalyst and a two-step thermochemical process to convert glycerol into an intermediate molecule and then acrylonitrile. Trillium holds an exclusive license to this process.

Once produced, the low-carbon acrylonitrile serves as a direct replacement for the fossil-based version, requiring no changes to the downstream supply chain. The startup is now focused on commissioning its newly completed demonstration plant in Texas, with initial shipments expected soon. The new capital will also fund engineering design for Trillium’s first commercial facility, though Tyree declined to disclose its potential location.

While glycerol is a cost-effective feedstock, Trillium’s product will carry a green premium. However, Tyree noted that his company aims to undercut existing green acrylonitrile on the market, which is currently produced from low-carbon propylene.