LG Chem Launches Production of Bio-Acrylic Acid
South Korean chemicals group LG Chem plans to start production of bio-acrylic acid in the second quarter of this year. Initial production capacity will be 100 metric tons (MT) per year, with plans to expand as demand for environmentally friendly resources grows.
With this move, LG Chem is entering the global market with eco-friendly raw materials derived from vegetable oils.
Bio-acrylic acid can be applied to various materials, including cosmetic ingredients that directly contact the skin, super absorbent polymers (SAP) for diapers, adhesives for electronics and vehicles, coating materials, and eco-friendly paints. Although, according to LG Chem, there have been attempts worldwide to develop bio-acrylic acid technology, none of them have yet been commercialized.
LG Chem's bio-acrylic acid is made from 3-ydroxypropionic acid (3HP), produced by microbial fermentation of plant-based raw materials. The product retains the same molecular structure and properties as conventional acrylic acid while being entirely plant-based.
The company said that it developed its 3HP strain and fermentation technology in-house, earning the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product label, confirming it as 100% bio-based last year.
LG Chem expects the cosmetics industry, which increasingly demands plant-based and naturally derived ingredients without compromising functionality, to be a key market for bio-acrylic acid.
"We expect bio-acrylic acid to be an innovative product that meets the sustainability needs of our customers and the market. We will continue leading the development of eco-friendly technologies," said Song Byung-Keun, senior vice president and head of LG Chem’s Acrylates/SAP business unit.
