Citroniq
Citroniq is a Houston-based pre-revenue company developing carbon-negative, 100% bio-based polypropylene (OrganiqPP) from corn ethanol using a proprietary E2O process, targeting automotive, packaging, and industrial buyers via its planned Nebraska manufacturing facility and global channel partners Vinmar and Mitsui.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Citroniq does
Citroniq is a Houston, Texas-based polymer decarbonization company developing carbon-negative, 100% bio-based polypropylene under the OrganiqPP® brand. Founded in 2020, the company operates a proprietary E2O (Ethanol-to-Olefins) process that converts corn-based ethanol into polypropylene using Lummus Technology's Verdene PP technology suite (ethanol-to-ethylene, dimer, olefins conversion, and polypropylene technologies). Citroniq's planned first commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Nebraska is sized at 600,000 tonnes per year, scheduled to begin operations in 2029 with claimed capacity to capture three million tonnes of CO2 per year and permanently sequester it as solid pellets. The company is also developing a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credit line on its BiCRS platform, validated via ASTM D6866 testing.
The company targets industrial polypropylene buyers across automotive (PP is roughly 32% of auto plastic use), food and beverage packaging, consumer goods, medical supplies, fibers and fabrics, and industrial chemical applications, positioning OrganiqPP as a drop-in replacement for fossil-based PP with claimed superior purity, isotacticity above 97%, +/-0.5 g/10 min MFI consistency, and FDA/EU food-contact compliance. Citroniq's go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to compounders, molders, and converters with channel partnerships for global distribution: a 15-year binding offtake with Premier Product Marketing (Vinmar) covers 50% of planned Nebraska facility capacity, and a Letter of Intent with Mitsui Plastics anchors Japan and global reach. Marketing is primarily B2B through LinkedIn, press releases, industry events, and CEO podcast appearances, with no consumer-facing channel.
Citroniq is privately held and pre-revenue. The company has raised $12 million in a September 2024 Series A led by an unnamed multi-national energy technology company with co-investment from Lummus Technology Ventures and partnership with the State of Nebraska. Co-founders Kelly Knopp (CEO, 40+ years at NOVA Chemicals, Williams, Koch, Phillips 66) and Mel Badheka (President, 30+ years across Halliburton, Envision, Guardhat) lead a four-person executive team. Strategic plan disclosed to investors covers a four-plant platform with combined capacity exceeding 3.5 billion pounds of PP per year and projected investment over $5 billion.
Citroniq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Citroniq
- Legal name
- Citroniq LLC
- Website
- https://citroniq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Citroniq is a Houston-based pre-revenue company developing carbon-negative, 100% bio-based polypropylene (OrganiqPP) from corn ethanol using a proprietary E2O process, targeting automotive, packaging, and industrial buyers via its planned Nebraska manufacturing facility and global channel partners Vinmar and Mitsui.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Citroniq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Plastics Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Petrochemical Manufacturing (325110)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEADAD), Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA)
Keywords
Where Citroniq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Citroniq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- OrganiqPP Polypropylene Sales: Revenue generated from selling carbon-negative bio-polypropylene (OrganiqPP) to industrial customers including compounders, molders, converters, automotive manufacturers, packaging companies, and consumer goods producers. 15-year binding offtake agreement with Premier Product Marketing secures 50% of planned Nebraska facility capacity.
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Credits: CDR credits generated from permanent CO2 removal through BiCRS (Biomass Carbon Removal & Storage) platform. Credits are MRV-compliant, backed by ASTM D6866 testing, and sold per ton of measurable carbon removal for integration into customer ESG and Net-Zero strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | OrganiqPP Carbon-Negative Polypropylene |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Citroniq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Citroniq manufactures and sells OrganiqPP®, a 100% bio-based, carbon-negative polypropylene produced from corn-based ethanol through its proprietary E2O (Ethanol-to-Olefins) process. OrganiqPP® is designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene, with superior purity, consistency and performance, targeting industrial compounders, molders, converters, automotive manufacturers, packaging producers and consumer goods companies. The company also monetizes Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits generated from permanent CO₂ sequestration in the solid plastic pellets, providing verifiable carbon removal units for customers' ESG and net-zero strategies.
Product overview
Citroniq operates as a next-generation bio-polypropylene platform with a single core product line centered on OrganiqPP®, a carbon-negative, 100% bio-based polypropylene produced from corn-based ethanol via its proprietary E2O (Ethanol-to-Olefins) process. The platform includes dedicated manufacturing hubs (starting with the Nebraska facility at 600,000 tonnes/year capacity), Lummus Verdene™ PP technology licensing, and CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) credits derived from permanent CO2 sequestration in plastic pellets. OrganiqPP® serves as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene, with dedicated green production that does not comingle with conventional output.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OrganiqPP®: Carbon-negative bio-polypropylene product produced from sustainable biogenic feedstocks using the E2O process. 100% bio-based, chemically identical to conventional PP with superior purity, consistency, and performance. Serves as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene.
Products and services
- OrganiqPP® Carbon-Negative Bio-Polypropylene Carbon-negative, 100% bio-based polypropylene produced from corn-based ethanol using Citroniq's proprietary E2O process and Lummus Verdene™ PP technology suite. Positioned as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene for compounders, molders, converters, automotive OEMs, packaging producers and consumer goods manufacturers. ASTM D6866-verifiable biogenic carbon content, with planned ISCC Plus, USDA BioPreferred and B Corp certifications.
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Credits Carbon Dioxide Removal credits generated from the BiCRS (Biomass Carbon Removal & Storage) platform, where CO₂ is permanently sequestered in solid OrganiqPP® pellets. MRV-compliant and backed by ASTM D6866 testing, sold per ton of measurable carbon removal to integrate into corporate ESG and Net-Zero strategies.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000+ tons of CO2 permanently sequestered per year per plant
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Citroniq
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Citroniq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Citroniq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- Premier Product Marketing (Vinmar company)core15-year binding offtake agreement for OrganiqPP carbon-negative polypropylene representing 50% of planned capacity of Citroniq's Nebraska manufacturing facility. Premier Product Marketing handles global marketing and distribution of the material, which serves as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene. Signals accelerating market adoption of biogenic and carbon-negative materials at industrial scale.
- ABBcoreSupply agreement for advanced automation, electrification, and digitalization solutions for 100% biogenic polypropylene facility in Nebraska. ABB provides ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system, advanced process control, digital simulation, electrical equipment, instrumentation, and engineering services. Facility scheduled to start operating in 2029 as world's first full commercial-scale biogenic PP plant of its kind.
- Lummus TechnologycoreLicensing and engineering agreements for green polypropylene plants using Lummus' Verdene PP technology suite (ethanol to ethylene, dimer, olefins conversion, and polypropylene technologies). First plant scheduled for completion in 2027, producing 400kta of bio-polypropylene. Citroniq signed four-plant licensing agreement. Lummus is global leader in licensing PP technology and only provider able to supply all proven technologies for renewable green PP from biogenic ethanol.
- Lummus TechnologycoreInitial Letter of Intent signed for development of green polypropylene projects in North America using Lummus' Verdene PP technology suite. Partnership aims to create first world-scale sustainable bio-polypropylene production process in North America. Projected investment over US $5 billion with combined PP annual capacity of over 3.5 billion pounds.
- Mitsui Plastics, Inc.strategicLetter of Intent for large-scale supply agreement for sustainable polypropylene. Alliance marks beginning of long-term partnership to provide customers with global-scale supplies of drop-in sustainable resins. MPI is wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), serving plastics and chemical industries with diverse portfolio of quality materials.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Citroniq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Braskem: Brazil-based petrochemical major and the global leader in bio-based polyolefins, producing I'm green bio-PE from sugarcane ethanol. Braskem is the closest direct competitor to Citroniq in renewable polyolefins, and is widely expected to expand into bio-polypropylene.
- NatureWorks: Manufacturer of Ingeo PLA, a bio-based polymer made from plant sugars. Operates a world-scale facility in Nebraska (Cargill joint venture history) and is the most established commercial-scale bioplastics specialist, making it a direct functional analog for Citroniq's bio-resin platform.
- TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture producing Luminy PLA from sugarcane. Serves the same packaging, automotive, and consumer goods end-markets as Citroniq's OrganiqPP, making it a direct peer in bio-based resins for durable applications.
Emerging players
- Danimer Scientific: Producer of Nodax PHA, a bio-based and biodegradable polymer. While PHA is a different chemistry, Danimer operates a similar model of selling bio-based resin as a drop-in or alternative to conventional plastics, with comparable customer discovery and certification challenges.
- Novamont: Italian bioplastics company producing Mater-Bi (biodegradable) and bio-based intermediates. Comparable as a smaller bio-based materials challenger targeting packaging and durables with sustainability premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- LyondellBasell: One of the world's largest polypropylene producers and a leader in circular polymers. Its CirculenRenew portfolio includes bio-based and recycled PP grades, making it a broad incumbent competing directly with Citroniq's product across all target end-markets.
- INEOS Group: Major global polyolefins producer with PP and PE capacity. INEOS has signaled interest in bio-attributed and circular polyolefins, making it a broad incumbent that could compete with Citroniq on sustainability-premium PP volumes.
- BASF: Global chemicals giant with a broad bioplastics and bio-based intermediates portfolio (including ecovio and biomass-balanced plastics). Overlap with Citroniq lies in the bio-based polyolefins and sustainable plastics opportunity for industrial customers.
- Borealis (ADNOC/OMV): Major polyolefins producer with a circular and bio-based portfolio (Borceed). The Bornewables product line (bio-based PP/PE) is a direct substitute for Citroniq's OrganiqPP across automotive and packaging end-uses.
- ExxonMobil: One of the largest petrochemical producers globally, including PP. ExxonMobil has invested in lower-emission process technologies and bio-based feedstocks, making it a potential competitor or partner as PP demand shifts toward lower-carbon options.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Citroniq social profiles
Digital presenceCitroniq compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Citroniq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Citroniq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Citroniq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Citroniq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Citroniq
What does Citroniq do?
Citroniq manufactures and sells OrganiqPP®, a 100% bio-based, carbon-negative polypropylene produced from corn-based ethanol through its proprietary E2O (Ethanol-to-Olefins) process. OrganiqPP® is designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil-based polypropylene, with superior purity, consistency and performance, targeting industrial compounders, molders, converters, automotive manufacturers, packaging producers and consumer goods companies. The company also monetizes Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits generated from permanent CO₂ sequestration in the solid plastic pellets, providing verifiable carbon removal units for customers' ESG and net-zero strategies.
Is Citroniq a public or private company?
Citroniq is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Citroniq founded?
Citroniq was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Citroniq based?
Citroniq is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Citroniq make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. OrganiqPP Polypropylene Sales are the primary driver. The others are carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Credits.
Who are Citroniq's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Braskem, NatureWorks and TotalEnergies Corbion. Emerging players are Danimer Scientific and Novamont. Broad incumbents are LyondellBasell, INEOS Group, BASF, Borealis (ADNOC/OMV) and ExxonMobil.
Does Citroniq have an API?
No public API is recorded for Citroniq.
What industry is Citroniq in?
Citroniq's product category is Sustainable Plastics Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAIAC, Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS), with a secondary code of IMAEADAD, Polyolefins (PE, PP). Its NAICS code is 32521 and its SIC code is 2821.