What Vertec BioSolvents does

Vertec BioSolvents is a US specialty chemical manufacturer of bio-based green solvents and solvent blends, founded in 2001 (originating from a CRADA with Argonne National Laboratories in the late 1990s) and headquartered in West Chicago, Illinois. The company produces high-performance alternatives to petroleum-derived solvents such as acetone, MEK, MIBK, NMP, toluene, xylene, methylene chloride, and d-limonene, using renewable feedstocks including corn, soybeans, citrus, and sugar beets. Its portfolio spans the VertecBio EL ethyl lactate line, the multi-variant ELSOL drop-in replacement series, VertecBio Gold heavy-duty stripping/degreasing products, the Citrus family, Ink Zapper, Ethyl Acetate, LVC, ELpine turpentine substitutes, and various specialty products. The portfolio is protected by seven issued US patents and supports regulated applications including EPA FIFRA 25(b) inert ingredients and FDA FCC (Kosher/Halal) food-grade uses.

Name

Vertec BioSolvents

Legal name

Vertec BioSolvents Inc.

Website

https://vertecbiosolvents.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertec BioSolvents manufactures patented bio-based green solvents and solvent blends derived from corn, soybeans, and citrus, serving industrial manufacturers in agriculture, coatings, cleaning, adhesives, electronics, and food applications as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based solvents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based Industrial Solvents

NAICS

Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Solvents & Process Chemicals (e.g., bio-acetone, bio-butanol, bio-IPA, green solvents) (EUAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals (EUAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Bio-based solvents
• Green solvents
• Industrial solvent blends
• Ethyl lactate solvents
• Petroleum solvent replacements

Headquarters

HQ city

West Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bio-Based Solvent Sales: Sale of proprietary bio-based solvent products and solvent blends to industrial manufacturers across agriculture, coatings, cleaning, food, and consumer markets. Products are sold directly to formulators and through distribution channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vertec BioSolvents manufactures and sells proprietary bio-based green solvents and solvent blends derived from renewable agricultural feedstocks including corn, soybeans, and citrus fruits. Its product portfolio spans the VertecBio EL (ethyl lactate), ELSOL, Gold, Citrus, DLR, PolySolv TR, 5516, LVC, Ink Zapper, Sanitization, Ethyl Acetate, ELpine, and Clean ECO-Solv lines, which serve as high-performance, biodegradable drop-in replacements for petroleum-based solvents in coatings, paints, industrial cleaning, printing inks, agriculture, adhesives, electronics, and food-grade applications.

Product overview

Vertec BioSolvents is an innovative manufacturer of sustainable, bio-based green solvents and solvent blends derived from renewable feedstocks including corn, soybeans, citrus fruits, and other bio-feedstocks. The product portfolio consists of multiple interconnected product lines: VertecBio™ EL (Ethyl Lactate) serves as the foundational ingredient across many formulations; the ELSOL® product line offers 13 drop-in replacement variants for petroleum solvents (AR, BCR, CXR, KTR, KTR1, KTR2, LQ, MAKR, NMPR, NMPR3, PMAR, DBEC, TR, XR); VertecBio Gold® provides heavy-duty stripping and degreasing formulations (#1EG, #2EG, #3EG, #4EG, #4C); VertecBio™ Citrus delivers citrus-based cleaning solutions (I20, #1, #4, BA 135, EG); and specialty products including DLR, PolySolv TR, 5516, LVC, Ink Zapper®, Sanitization, and ELpine round out the portfolio. All products are designed as high-performance, environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based solvents, containing no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) or ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VertecBio™ EL: Ethyl lactate product line - 100% biodegradable solvents for paints, coatings, and inks
• VertecBio Gold®
• VertecBio™ ELSOL®
• VertecBio™ Citrus
• VertecBio™ Ethyl Acetate
• VertecBio™ DLR
• VertecBio™ PolySolv TR
• VertecBio™ 5516
• VertecBio™ LVC
• VertecBio™ Ink Zapper®
• VertecBio™ Sanitization

Products and services

• VertecBio EL (Ethyl Lactate) 100 percent biodegradable ethyl lactate solvent derived from corn, available in Technical, Food Grade (FCC - Kosher and Halal Approved), and High Purity formulations. Used as a high-powered solvent to cut through paints, coatings, and inks, and as an EPA 4A Inert Solvent in agricultural formulations.
• VertecBio ELSOL Full line of bio-based safe solvents derived from renewable resources (corn and sugar beets), serving as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based solvents including Acetone, Butyl Cellosolve, Cyclohexanone, Tetrahydrofuran, MEK, MIBK, NMP, Toluene, and Xylene. Includes variants AR, BCR, CXR, KTR, KTR1, KTR2, LQ, MAKR, NMPR, NMPR3, PMAR, DBEC, TR, XR for coatings, adhesives, and cleaning applications.
• VertecBio Gold Patented high-performing bio-based solvent line containing vegetable esters derived from soybeans and corn, ideal for paint strippers, graffiti removers, heavy asphalt cleaners, and degreasers. Includes variants #1EG, #2EG, #3EG, #4EG, and #4C.
• VertecBio Citrus Bio-based citrus solvent family excellent for cleaning epoxy, polyurethane, and other resins. Replacement for d-limonene, xylene, and toluene. Includes variants I20, #1, #4, BA 135, and EG.
• VertecBio DLR High-powered, environmentally friendly d-Limonene substitute with a lower price point. Designed to cut through oily materials, adhesives, and inks with price stability not dependent on citrus crop supply.
• VertecBio PolySolv TR Bio-based formulation for resin dissolution with excellent solvency for paint, coating, and ink formulations. Contains no alcohols or esters and offers reduced VOC compared to Toluene.
• VertecBio 5516 Environmentally friendly solvent for cleaning polyurethanes. Contains no environmentally hazardous ingredients, has moderate drying time, no residue, low vapor, and a sweet pleasant fragrance.
• VertecBio LVC Low VOC high-performance solvent blends for eco-friendly formulating. Offers excellent solvency for adhesives, paints, coatings, and inks. Includes variants Solv #1, Solv #2, LVC-F70, and LVC-F150.
• VertecBio Ink Zapper Patented bio-based alternative for washing printing press and blanket. Non-toxic, completely safe for employees to handle, and reduces solvent usage up to 60 percent versus traditional blanket wash solvents.
• VertecBio Sanitization Patented bio-based hard surface sanitizer that kills 99.99+% of bacteria, formulated with high-strength ethanol and ethyl lactate with bacteriostatic properties. Also includes a hand sanitizer with 98% bio-derived formulation.
• VertecBio Ethyl Acetate Bio-Based 100% bio-derived, 100% biodegradable high-performance versatile solvent for formulating and cleanup. Replaces all applications for petroleum-based Ethyl Acetate, available in standard and Food Grade (FCC) formulations.
• VertecBio ELpine Bio-based turpentine substitute for coatings, inks, adhesives, and industrial cleaning applications. Includes variants ELpine 118, ELpine #1, and ELpine #4 for cleaning, degreasing, and formulation needs.
• VertecBio Clean ECO-Solv Bio-based isopropyl alcohol alternative for lacquer formulating and cleaning. Offers unique bio-static properties ideal for wipe solvent applications on food and agricultural seed contact surfaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60% solvent usage reduction compared to traditional blanket wash solvents (Ink Zapper)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Shrieve Chemical CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Shrieve Chemical Company, a global specialty chemicals distributor backed by private equity firm Gemspring Capital, acquired Vertec BioSolvents in April 2026. The acquisition expands Shrieve's specialty chemicals portfolio with Vertec's proprietary bio-based solvent technology and strengthens its position in sustainable chemical markets serving agriculture, coatings, cleaning, food, and consumer sectors. The deal aims to expand Shrieve's presence across key end markets, enhance innovation capabilities, and meet rising demand for sustainable solvent solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Corbion: Global leader in lactic acid and lactate derivatives including ethyl lactate and butyl lactate — direct upstream overlap with Vertec's EL and ELSOL platforms. Corbion supplies bio-based solvents and food-grade ingredients to overlapping CASE, food, and personal-care customers.
• Galactic (Cargill): Belgian lactic acid derivatives specialist now under Cargill, producing ethyl lactate and other bio-based ester solvents used in industrial cleaning, coatings, and food applications — direct formulation competitor to Vertec's EL line.
• Elevance Renewable Sciences: Bio-based specialty chemicals producer using renewable feedstocks (vegetable oils, including soy methyl esters) to make performance chemicals and solvents for coatings, cleaning, and personal care — direct overlap with Vertec's soy-based Gold and ELSOL product lines.
• Green Biologics: UK-based bio-based solvents and specialty chemicals company producing n-butanol, acetone, and other green solvents from renewable feedstocks — directly comparable drop-in replacement positioning for CASE and industrial cleaning customers.

Broad incumbents

• Solvay: Major European specialty chemical producer with bio-based and circular-economy initiatives including bio-solvents for CASE and HI&I. Comparable end-market exposure and sustainability positioning, though at far broader scale than Vertec.
• Eastman Chemical: Specialty chemical incumbent with significant solvents and additives portfolio for coatings, inks, and cleaning. Eastman's circular-economy initiatives (including molecular recycling for bio-based feedstocks) overlap with the sustainability positioning Vertec pursues.
• Stepan Company: Established North American specialty chemical manufacturer with leading positions in surfactants, polymers, and cleaning compound formulations — overlaps with Vertec's HI&I cleaning and CASE customer base, though Stepan operates at significantly larger scale across multiple chemistries.
• BASF: Global chemical major with bio-based solvent offerings and broad CASE, agricultural, and cleaning portfolios. BASF competes indirectly through its eco-efficiency certified solvents and is a benchmark for the bio-based transformation Vertec targets.

Emerging players

• Acme Hardesty (J.M. Huber): Distributor and formulator of bio-based specialty ingredients including soy methyl esters, castor derivatives, and other oleochemicals serving CASE, HI&I, and personal care markets — comparable renewable-feedstock positioning with stronger distribution.

Others

• Citrosuco / Louis Dreyfus Citrus: Vertically integrated citrus processors producing d-limonene and related citrus-derived solvents used in industrial cleaning and CASE. Relevant as both a potential feedstock partner and indirect competitor to Vertec's Citrus product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vertec-biosolvents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vertec BioSolvents