A BIOSCIENCE company in York is set to cure the problem of solvent-abuse - and revolutionise the world's chemical industry.

Newly-formed Bioniqs Ltd, based at the University of York's £22 million biocentre on the Science Park in Heslington, has already created a new generation of 200 solvents which are non-toxic, non-flammable and biodegradable. Their applications could be worth billions of pounds.

They could help bring an end to glue-sniffing, prevent the contamination of water supplies from industrial spillages or from dry cleaning fluids, and also lead to the replacement of engine oil with an easily disposable but just as effective lubricant.

It could also quicken the process of drugs manufacture, which relies on solvents for chemical reactions.

Bioniqs co-founders Professor Neil Bruce and Dr Adam Walker began partnership talks with two large European chemical companies soon after the firm was formed by the Centre For Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) at the University of York, with support from its partners, Amaethon and IP2IPO.

The venture arose from research by the two men into novel ionic liquids - salts that are molten at room temperature - which can be specifically tailored for biochemical systems. The next generation of ionic liquids, being designed and manufactured by Bioniqs, incorporate water-like properties, permitting proteins, such as enzymes, to function in the near absence of water.

This means there could be "cleaner" processes to manufacture paper and textiles as well as "designer chemicals" for the pharmaceutical industry.

Prof Bruce said that now the chemistry of the process of creating "green" solvents was proven, it was up to industry to take advantage of it.

"At the moment there is a barrier of cost, but two factors are militating in our favour. For instance, the rising price of oil means that existing solvent costs will increase. At the same time environmental issues are now reaching centre stage both in Europe and the US."

Prof Bruce is a non executive director while Dr Walker is chief scientific officer. They are joined by Dr Gwyn Humphreys as chairman.

Dr Humphreys is co-founder of Bradford Particle Design, a pharmaceutical technology spinout company from the University of Bradford which he sold in 2001 to San Francisco-based Inhale Therapeutic Systems for $200 million.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, May 04, 2005