How Bio-based Glutaric Acid is Produced
Key Pathways:
- Fermentation from Sugars
- Engineered strains of E. coli, Corynebacterium, or Ketogulonicigenium convert glucose/fructose into glutaric acid via the lysine degradation or α-ketoglutarate shunt pathway.
- CRISPR tools enhance the flux toward C5 intermediates like 2-oxoadipate.
- Bio-succinic Acid Upgrading
- Succinic acid is converted to glutaric acid through chain elongation or partial hydrogenation via biocatalysts or metal catalysts.
- Biocatalytic Conversion from L-lysine
- L-lysine, already produced at scale via fermentation, can be oxidized to glutaric acid using enzymes like L-lysine monooxygenase.
Feedstocks: Glucose, lignocellulosic hydrolysates, crude glycerol, or industrial L-lysine.
Case Study: Verdezyne (USA)
Highlights:
- Developed a fermentation-based platform to produce biobased glutaric acid (VerdeSweet™).
- Used yeast engineered for omega-oxidation of dicarboxylic acids.
- Targeted specialty applications in nylon-6,10 and plasticizers.
Timeline & Outcome:
- 2013: Pilot-scale fermentation with 70+ g/L titers demonstrated.
- 2015: Signed agreement to build first commercial plant in Malaysia.
- 2017: Production halted due to strategic restructuring.
- While inactive now, Verdezyne proved technical feasibility and market viability for bio-glutaric acid.
Global Startups Working on Bio-based Glutaric Acid
- AFYREN (France) – Produces bio-based carboxylic acids, including glutaric acid derivatives, using sugar industry by-products.
Link - BioC3 (Germany) – Working on renewable C3–C6 acid platforms using glycerol and sugar fermentation.
- Nippon Shokubai (Japan) – Exploring bio-adipic and glutaric acids for high-performance polyamides.
India’s Position
India produces over 1 million tons/year of L-lysine, glycerol, and sugar, offering strong feedstock potential.
Key developments include: Currently, no commercial bio-glutaric production exists, but the platform is relevant for India’s nylon and coating industries.
Commercialization Outlook
Market & Demand
- Global glutaric acid market: ~$500 million (2024), driven by:
- Polyamides (nylon-6,10, nylon-6,5)
- Biodegradable polyesters
- Plasticizers and corrosion inhibitors
- Bio-based share is still <5% but growing due to demand in green polymers and bio-based coatings.
Key Drivers
- Growth in bio-based nylon variants and plasticizers.
- Push for non-phthalate, biodegradable additives in plastics and coatings.
- Feedstock availability (glycerol, lysine, succinate) in biorefineries.
- Brand-side interest in low-toxicity, low-carbon specialty monomers.
Challenges to Address
- Cost Competitiveness: Bio-glutaric acid remains ~1.5–2× costlier than petro variants.
- Process Efficiency: Fermentation titers and downstream purification still need scale-up.
- Market Fragmentation: Specialty application limits volumes, affecting economies of scale.
- Supply Chain Integration: Lack of mature supply chains for niche biobased monomers.
Progress Indicators
- 2013–2015: Verdezyne demonstrates pilot titers and commercial partnerships.
- 2017: Bio-nylon applications tested with VerdeSweet™.
- 2020–2023: AFYREN scales multi-acid platform including glutarate analogues.
- India (2024): IITs and CSIR labs testing glycerol- and lysine-derived C5 acid pathways.
- 2025: Expected pilot-level bioconversion of lysine to glutaric acid in India or Southeast Asia.
TRL 5–6, with demonstrated pilot fermentation but limited commercial scale. Feedstock-to-glutaric via lysine or succinate is well understood and ready for demonstration.
Conclusion
Bio-based glutaric acid presents a viable path toward sustainable nylon variants, plasticizers, and corrosion inhibitors. Although Verdezyne’s commercial plans paused, they laid the foundation for future innovation. With active startups like AFYREN and strong feedstock availability in India, bio-glutaric acid has strong potential to re-emerge in the next wave of biobased specialty chemicals. As titers improve and downstream cost drops, this C5 platform chemical could play a key role in building circular, high-performance polymers and additives.
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