Longtime SBIR-STTR involved, KSE Inc spun out of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. In the area of R&D services for industrial processes, and biomass conversion, the company is known for the development of a chemical dehydration cycle known as reactive distillation. Originally developed to improve the economics of fuel grade ethanol production, the technology is now being considered to dehydrate other fermentation or microorganism derived chemicals. The company has a variety of new technology concepts that utilize biomass feedstocks to produce commodity chemicals traditionally derived from petroleum. This includes new ways to convert glycerol, fructose, glucose and furfural derived from biomass, into acrylic acid, adipic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), and tetrahydrofuran (THF) In May 2002, KSE merged with Etensity, Inc., and DDLabs, LLC broadening the firm's technical capabilites to allow focus to Air Pollution Control and Catalysis. KSE Inc. also offers litigation and subrogation support for technology companies,
