Xyleco Explained

Xyleco
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Founder:Marshall Medoff
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Hq Location:Wakefield, Massachusetts
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Website:http://www.xyleco.com

Xyleco is a privately held scientific research and manufacturing company in Wakefield, Massachusetts.[1] Xyleco is developing a process to convert biomass into useful products,[2] including cellulosic ethanol.[3] The board of directors includes Steven Chu and George Shultz.[4] Employee reviews of Xyleco are mixed. Some workers are extremely optimistic as the company grows, while other workers find management secretive and manipulative.[5]

Xyleco's process involves using ionizing radiation from an electron particle accelerator to break apart cellulose molecules.[2] Accelerators are energy-intensive, but treatment times are short.[6]

History

According to a 2019 story on "60 Minutes", the company was started by Marshall Medoff, a then 81-year old without a formal science education. He got his inspiration by spending time at Walden Pond, and studying research papers in a storage facility for 15 years.[2] During that time, he was granted over 300 patents.[7] Several 2002 patents were for plastic-cellulose-fiber composites expected to be stronger than ordinary plastic based on resins and wood fiber.[8] In 2004, Rubbermaid agreed to work with Xyleco to develop a material that would be stronger and cheaper than current materials.[9]

In 2009, Medoff hired his first employee, Craig Masterman, an MIT graduate in chemistry. Using $45 million from investors, they built a testing laboratory in Wakefield, Massachusetts,[2] in March 2015.[4]

Marshall Medoff

Marshall Medoff was born December 30, 1937. He died November 17th, 2021.[10]

Company reputation

Xyleco came to public attention in January 2019, when Lesley Stahl did a "60 Minutes" piece lauding Medoff as an eccentric but remarkably successful inventor.[11] Two months later, Lux Research published a review stating that "Lux views Xyleco with a great deal of skepticism... [G]iven its incorrect claims regarding the bioeconomy, exorbitantly expensive patent portfolio, unclear technology development history, and esteemed yet unrelated board, Lux believes that Xyleco is likely a scam."[12] Reviewers on Reddit were also highly skeptical of Medoff's claims.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corporate Website . February 28, 2024.
  2. News: Marshall Medoff unveils to 60 Minutes his innovative method of turning plant life into fuel and other useful products . . 60 Minutes . January 9, 2019 . Lesley . Stahl . January 6, 2019.
  3. Xyleco Cellulosic Fuels, Corporate Website https://www.xyleco.com/cellulosic-fuels/
  4. Web site: Board of Directors . Xyleco . January 6, 2019.
  5. Web site: Xyleco Employee Review . . January 7, 2019.
  6. Henniges. Ute. Hasani. Merima. Potthast. Antje. Westman. Gunnar. Rosenau. Thomas. Electron Beam Irradiation of Cellulosic Materials—Opportunities and Limitations. Materials. 6. 5. 2013. 1584–1598. 1996-1944. 10.3390/ma6051584. 10.1.1.377.9331. 28809230. 5452524. 2013Mate....6.1584H. free.
  7. Web site: Patents Assigned to Xyleco, Inc. . . January 7, 2019.
  8. Xyleco patents plastic/wood technologies . Crain Communications . Plastics News . Michael . Lauzon . December 23, 2002 . January 7, 2019.
  9. Rubbermaid, Xyleco team up . Crain Communications . Plastics News . Angie . Derosa . November 1, 2004 . January 7, 2019.
  10. Web site: Marshall Medoff Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information . 2024-07-31 . www.goldmanfc.com . en.
  11. Web site: Stahl . Lesley . 2019-06-23 . Xyleco's Marshall Medoff: The unlikely, eccentric inventor turning inedible plant life into fuel - 60 Minutes interview with biofuel idea man - CBS News . 2024-07-31 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  12. Web site: Hewage . Gihan . 2019-03-11 . Xyleco: The next Bio-Based Scam Looking to Cash in on the Sustainability Craze - Lux Research . 2024-07-31 . luxresearchinc.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: theberkshire . 2019-01-07 . Xyleco's Marshall Medoff: The unlikely, eccentric inventor turning inedible plant life into fuel . 2024-07-31 . r/climate.