View source for Xyleco

{{Short description|American science and alternative energy company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Xyleco
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| founder = Marshall Medoff <!-- or: | founders = -->
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| hq_location = [[Wakefield, Massachusetts]]
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| website = http://www.xyleco.com <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
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'''Xyleco''' is a privately held scientific research and manufacturing company in [[Wakefield, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Corporate Website |url=https://www.xyleco.com/ |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> Xyleco is developing a process to convert [[biomass]] into useful products,<ref name="sixty">{{cite news |title=Marshall Medoff unveils to 60 Minutes his innovative method of turning plant life into fuel and other useful products |publisher=[[CBS]] |work=60 Minutes |date=January 9, 2019 |first=Lesley |last=Stahl |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marshall-medoff-the-unlikely-eccentric-inventor-turning-inedible-plant-life-into-fuel-60-minutes/ |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> including [[cellulosic ethanol]].<ref>Xyleco Cellulosic Fuels, Corporate Website  https://www.xyleco.com/cellulosic-fuels/</ref> The board of directors includes [[Steven Chu]]. Former US Secretary of State [[George Shultz]] was a board member until his death in February of 2021.<ref name="xyleco">{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |publisher=Xyleco |url=https://www.xyleco.com/board/ |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>  Employee reviews of Xyleco are mixed.  Some workers are extremely optimistic as the company grows, while other workers find management secretive and manipulative.<ref>{{cite web |title=Xyleco Employee Review |publisher=[[Glassdoor]] |url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Xyleco-RVW10742661.htm |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>
Xyleco's process involves using [[ionizing radiation]] from an electron [[particle accelerator]] to break apart [[cellulose]] molecules.<ref name="sixty"/>  Accelerators are energy-intensive, but treatment times are short.<ref name="HennigesHasani2013">{{cite journal|last1=Henniges|first1=Ute|last2=Hasani|first2=Merima|last3=Potthast|first3=Antje|last4=Westman|first4=Gunnar|last5=Rosenau|first5=Thomas|title=Electron Beam Irradiation of Cellulosic Materials—Opportunities and Limitations|journal=Materials|volume=6|issue=5|year=2013|pages=1584–1598|issn=1996-1944|doi=10.3390/ma6051584|citeseerx=10.1.1.377.9331|pmid=28809230|pmc=5452524|bibcode=2013Mate....6.1584H|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="sixty"/>  During that time, he was granted over 300 patents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Patents Assigned to Xyleco, Inc. |publisher=[[Justia]] |url=https://patents.justia.com/assignee/xyleco-inc |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>  Several 2002 patents were for  plastic-cellulose-fiber composites expected to be stronger than ordinary plastic based on resins and wood fiber.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Xyleco patents plastic/wood technologies |publisher=Crain Communications |journal=Plastics News |first=Michael |last=Lauzon |date=December 23, 2002 |url=https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20021223/news/312239974 |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>  In 2004, Rubbermaid agreed to work with Xyleco to develop a material that would be stronger and cheaper than current materials.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rubbermaid, Xyleco team up |publisher=Crain Communications |journal=Plastics News |first=Angie |last=Derosa |date=November 1, 2004 |url=https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20041101/NEWS/311019991/rubbermaid-xyleco-team-up |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>
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]],<ref name="sixty"/> in March 2015.<ref name="xyleco"/>
==Marshall Medoff==
Marshall Medoff was born December 30, 1937. He died November 17th, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marshall Medoff Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information |url=https://www.goldmanfc.com/memorials/marshall-medoff/4786794/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.goldmanfc.com |language=en}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stahl |first=Lesley |date=2019-06-23 |title=Xyleco's Marshall Medoff: The unlikely, eccentric inventor turning inedible plant life into fuel - 60 Minutes interview with biofuel idea man - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marshall-medoff-the-unlikely-eccentric-inventor-turning-inedible-plant-life-into-fuel-60-minutes-2019-06-23/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hewage |first=Gihan |date=2019-03-11 |title=Xyleco: The next Bio-Based Scam Looking to Cash in on the Sustainability Craze - Lux Research |url=https://luxresearchinc.com/blog/xyleco-the-next-bio-based-scam-looking-to-cash-in-on-the-sustainability-craze/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=luxresearchinc.com |language=en-US}}</ref>  Reviewers on Reddit were also highly skeptical of Medoff's claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=theberkshire |date=2019-01-07 |title=Xyleco's Marshall Medoff: The unlikely, eccentric inventor turning inedible plant life into fuel |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/climate/comments/addu73/xylecos_marshall_medoff_the_unlikely_eccentric/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=r/climate}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Cellulosic ethanol]]
* [[Cellulosic ethanol commercialization]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Bioenergy}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Biomass]]
[[Category:Sustainable energy]]
[[Category:Particle accelerators]]
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