Loughborough University spin-out R3VTech has won Runner Up in the Environment category at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition 2026, recognising the company as one of the UK’s most promising chemistry-led innovators tackling environmental challenges.
The competition is judged by leaders from organisations including bp, PETRONAS, Johnson Matthey, Unilever, Croda, GSK, AstraZeneca and Future Planet Capital, placing R3VTech’s technology before experts from across the chemicals, energy and investment sectors. The award also highlights the economic opportunity for technologies that convert biodiesel’s by-product into high-value chemicals, creating millions of additional revenue stream to biodiesel producers while supporting circular economy.
R3VTech was co-founded by Loughborough University chemistry academics Dr Adriano Randi and Professor Benjamin Buckley, together with Professor Jin Xuan, now at the University of Surrey. The company has developed a patented electrochemical process that enables biodiesel producers to convert crude glycerol – a low-value by-product of biodiesel production – directly into solketal, a bio-derived solvent and fuel additive.
R3VTech was shortlisted alongside Brilliant Dyes, Demeter Bio, Metal Morph, Imperial College London (FluoroCycle) and the University of Birmingham in the Environment category before being selected as the overall winner. On 21 July, CEO and co-founder Dr Adriano Randi presented the company’s technology at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s headquarters, Burlington House, London, where finalists pitched their innovations, followed by interviews with the judging panel.
Commenting on the award, Dr Adriano Randi, CEO and co-founder of R3VTech, said: “Being recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry as the Environment category winner in the Emerging Technologies Competition 2026 provides valuable validation for R3VTech. The opportunity to raise our profile with industry experts, investors and potential partners is invaluable and comes at a very important time as we build the team and expand our facilities.”
R3VTech’s process is designed for deployment at biodiesel production sites, eliminating the need for complex refining and reducing the transportation and energy requirements associated with conventional processing routes. By transforming crude glycerol into a high-value sustainable chemical, the technology offers both environmental and economic benefits for biodiesel producers.
The recognition also builds on earlier support from the Royal Society of Chemistry, which selected R3VTech for its 2025 Change Makers programme, designed to accelerate chemistry-led start-ups and scale-ups creating positive environmental, social and economic impact.
Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University, added: “Congratulations to the R3VTech team on winning the Environment category of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition. This is another strong endorsement of the progress they are making as they continue to develop a technology with clear commercial promise and real potential to support more sustainable industrial processes.”
