Ashland’s Specialty Ingredients division has completed its acquisition of AkzoNobel’s Zeta Fraction Technology, further strengthening the US company’s portfolio in the personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage and agricultural markets.

The technology will allow Ashland to produce a wide range of biofunctional ingredients from living plants and marine sources, without recourse to external solvents, positioning the firm for further growth in the specialty ingredients market.

Ashland has also launched Elixiance biofunctional, a new sustainable skin care ingredient said to minimize damage caused by pollution.