Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announces the successful start-up of its biobased propylene glycol facility in Decatur, Ill. The facility began start-up operations in late March and is now producing industrial-grade, biobased propylene glycol. Over the next few months, ADM will ramp up the plant's production capacity and work toward adding production of propylene glycol which meets USP specifications.

"When we initially started propylene glycol production at the facility in June 2010, we made high-quality product and gained confidence in our technology. We also identified several opportunities to further improve product quality," said Paul Bloom, business director, Industrial Chemicals.

"We piloted the necessary design modifications, reviewed and updated our operational safety program and then implemented the improvements at scale to bring the facility online in late March. Because ADM is committed to safely producing high-quality, biobased propylene glycol, we took time to ensure our facility was getting the right results, the right way."

The facility has also produced certified kosher glycerin which meets USP specifications since April 2009.

About Evolution Chemicals(TM)

ADM's Evolution Chemicals line of biobased industrial products is derived from renewable resources like corn and soy. Evolution Chemicals places ADM's industrial chemicals, such as isosorbide, propylene glycol, glycerin, industrial ethanol and ethylene glycol, under one product line.

ADM has more than 100 years of experience producing industrial chemicals. The first product offered for sale by the Daniels Linseed Company in 1902 was linseed oil, which is still used in industrial applications such as paints and varnishes. Today, ADM's Industrial Chemicals group produces polymers, solvents and starches for industrial and consumer applications like paints, plastics, household cleaners and pharmaceutical excipients.

UkrAgroConsult