Trillium, a Knoxville-based developer of bio-based chemicals, has raised $13M in Series B funding led by HS Hyosung Advanced Materials. The company produces patented drop-in acrylonitrile and acetonitrile from renewable glycerol feedstocks as alternatives to fossil-derived versions. The capital will fund Project Falcon, the world's first demonstration plant at INEOS Green Lake facility in Texas.
Bio-Chemicals Demo Plants Advance
The raise brings Trillium's total funding to $26M, following a $10.6M Series A and $2.5M DOE grant. It aligns with a surge in bio-chemical investments: Låkril Technologies secured $7M for bio-acrylic acid, while ViridiCO2 raised $8.9M for CO2-derived chemicals. Trillium's glycerol-to-acrylonitrile process targets supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by fossil volatility. HS Hyosung, a carbon fiber leader, signals demand from downstream users.
Acrylonitrile Carbon Footprint Looms Large
Acrylonitrile production exceeds 6 million metric tons annually, primarily from propylene. The process generates high emissions, dominating lifecycles in end products like ABS plastics and carbon fibers. Conventional supply chains rely on China-dominated propylene, risking disruptions. Bio-based alternatives address these gaps but lag in scale.
Glycerol Converts to Drop-In Nitriles
Trillium's proprietary catalytic process transforms biodiesel byproduct glycerol into bio-acrylonitrile and acetonitrile. These molecules serve acrylic fibers, ABS resins, nitrile rubbers, and carbon fibers without infrastructure changes. Partnerships with INEOS for hosting and Zeton for design accelerate commercialization. The technology cuts carbon emissions significantly versus fossil routes.
As Trillium CEO Corey Tyree told Heatmap News:
“When you look at the lifecycle analysis of these products, the thing that jumps off the page is acrylonitrile dominates that lifecycle.”
Strategic Investors Back Scale-Up
HS Hyosung Advanced Materials led the round, with participation from Capricorn Partners. This validates Trillium's role in sustainable carbon fiber supply chains, as Hyosung produces advanced materials. Previous backers include Solvay and HELM. The funding shifts focus from pilot to commercial proof.
As CEO Corey Tyree stated:
“We are now moving from technical proof to commercial proof.”
Acrylonitrile Market Grows Steadily
The global acrylonitrile market stands at $13.7B in 2026, projected to reach $20.5B by 2035 at 4.7% CAGR. Renewable chemicals overall hit $148B with 13.8% CAGR. Demand rises for EVs, aerospace, and renewables. EU's €170M bio-based funding call underscores regulatory push.
Leaders from Chemical Giants
Trillium's team draws from Dow, Shell, and ExxonMobil, with decades in process commercialization. CEO Corey Tyree leads commercialization efforts post-spinout from Southern Research Institute. Recent hires include catalyst and commissioning engineers for Project Falcon operations.
Demo Plant Commissioning Looms
Project Falcon at INEOS Green Lake nears commissioning in Q2 2026, producing at industrial volumes. Syensqo showcased Trillium's bio-acrylonitrile in aerospace-grade carbon fiber at JEC World 2026. The company plans further hires in operations and expansion via partnerships.