Bio-based acrylic acid process ante portas
On August 17, 2012 German Chemical giant BASF, American Cargill (producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services) and Danish Novozymes (the world’s leader in bio-innovation) signed an agreement to team up in a joint R&D cooperation to develop an industrial biotechnology based production process for acrylic acid from renewable raw materials and this new process will become the key raw material for the production of bio-based super-absorbents for baby diapers
Up to now, acrylic acid is produced by the oxidation of propylene derived from the refining of crude oil. Novozymes and Cargill have collaborated on renewable acrylic acid technology since 2008 and both have worked to delvop microorganisms that can efficiently convert renewable feedstock into 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) representing one possible chemical precursor to acrylic acid. BASF, being the world’s largest producer of acrylic acid and with substantial capabilities in production and downstream processing, now joined this collaboration to develop the process for conversion of 3-HP into acrylic acid.
Acrylic acid is a high-volume chemical used in a broad range of products, one is the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers capable of soaking up large amounts of liquid and are used mainly in baby diapers and other hygiene products. Acrylic acid is also used in adhesive raw materials and coatings. The actual annual global market volume is around 4.5 million t with a value of US 11 billion in 2011. The annual growth rate settles at four percent.
Bio-based acrylic acid process ante portas
On August 17, 2012 German Chemical giant BASF, American Cargill (producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services) and Danish Novozymes (the world’s leader in bio-innovation) signed an agreement to team up in a joint R&D cooperation to develop an industrial biotechnology based production process for acrylic acid from renewable raw materials and this new process will become the key raw material for the production of bio-based super-absorbents for baby diapers
Up to now, acrylic acid is produced by the oxidation of propylene derived from the refining of crude oil. Novozymes and Cargill have collaborated on renewable acrylic acid technology since 2008 and both have worked to delvop microorganisms that can efficiently convert renewable feedstock into 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) representing one possible chemical precursor to acrylic acid. BASF, being the world’s largest producer of acrylic acid and with substantial capabilities in production and downstream processing, now joined this collaboration to develop the process for conversion of 3-HP into acrylic acid.
Acrylic acid is a high-volume chemical used in a broad range of products, one is the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers capable of soaking up large amounts of liquid and are used mainly in baby diapers and other hygiene products. Acrylic acid is also used in adhesive raw materials and coatings. The actual annual global market volume is around 4.5 million t with a value of US 11 billion in 2011. The annual growth rate settles at four percent.