Carbon Science Solutions LLC (CSS) is a startup concentrating on using liquid waste (or "stillage") that remains after ethanol distillation as an admixture in mortar and concrete in order to improve the workability of fresh concrete and to modify the properties of the hardened mortar and concrete.
We have partnered with the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) at the University of Kentucky (UKY) on these efforts, focusing particularly, given its importance in the State's economy, as they relate to the production of bourbon and rye whiskeys.
CSS has an option agreement for an exclusive license with UKY that covers [two] issued patents and a pending patent. The pending patent covers the use of stillage as described above.
Stillage is readily available (likely for little or no charge) from distilleries. In Kentucky, for example, the cost of disposing of stillage by traditional methods has increased dramatically, particularly with the bourbon industry booming, and the cost of alternative methods of disposal or use of the waste are also expensive (prohibitively, in many cases) and, in some cases, environmentally harmful.
The use of stillage liquid as an admixture has high impact potential on both the bourbon industry and the ready-mix concrete industry. This is accomplished by not only providing a solution for a growing concern about waste disposal from the bourbon industry but also providing a highly unique and "green" no-chemical approach to concrete admixtures. We estimate that this technology has the capability of producing up to 30 percent less CO2 footprint (based on groundwater as the source of the water in the mixture) as compared to traditional methods.
Our data, which has been supported by testing data from two U.S. concrete producers, indicates that using bourbon stillage liquids in a cementitious system, as an admixture, can impart increased strength performance, provide significant water-reducing properties, improve concrete rheology and the potential to delay strength development [if high concentrations of stillage liquid are added (up to full replacement of standard, tap, mixing water)]. Significantly, less water is required to provide the desired flow and workability to the mortar and cement.
Gary, a graduate of the University of Illinois and Columbia LawSchool, spent 31 years at international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, the last 23 of which as a partner. At Skadden, he concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, financings, joint ventures and other transactional and board-level matters, including litigation strategy, shareholder activism, corporate governance and disclosure issues. In the financing arena, heled many financings in various industries in private equity, IPOs, greenfield projects, bank loans and high yield financings for high-growth companies.
Gary is now a private investor working on a variety of entrepreneurial matters, including as a principal, board member, and senior advisor.
He has been recognized for Corporate/M&A in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business; Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business; The Best Lawyers inAmerica; Leading Lawyers in Illinois; and other publications.
Mr. Moore is the principal member of RAM Capital Partners, a financial advisory firm whose clients have included companies in the telecommunications, intellectual property and software and technology industries.
Prior to RAM Capital Partners, Mr. Moore was a Managing Director in Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette’s Investment Bank. His capital raising experience ranged from private offerings of convertible debt and preferred equity securities for early stage companies to public offerings of common stock, including initial public offerings, preferred equity, convertible debt and high yield debt securities. His financial advisory experience included mergers and acquisitions and restructuring assignments.
Mr. Moore holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.