Biobased Acetic Acid

Acetic acid, the simplest carboxylic acid after formic acid, is a vital building block in the chemical industry. It is used to produce vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), acetic anhydride, solvents, and esters for adhesives, textiles, and food preservation. Currently, most of the global supply is fossil-derived via methanol carbonylation. However, biobased acetic acid offers a renewable alternative using microbial fermentation or gas-based synthesis from biomass or waste.

This blog outlines the biobased production routes, a verified case study, notable startup activity, India’s current role, and the commercialization outlook.

How Biobased Acetic Acid is Produced

1. Fermentation of Sugars or Waste Biomass

• Microorganisms like Clostridium, Acetobacter, and engineered E. coli ferment glucose, xylose, or lignocellulosic hydrolysates to acetic acid.
• The process operates under anaerobic or microaerobic conditions with direct acid production.
• Inhibitors in biomass hydrolysates often affect yield; detoxification steps may be needed.

2. Gas Fermentation (Syngas/CO₂)

• Gas-fermenting microbes (e.g., Moorella thermoacetica) convert CO, CO₂, and H₂ (from syngas or industrial off-gases) into acetic acid via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway.
• Particularly useful for utilizing waste gases from steel plants, biomass gasification, or biogas.

3. Catalytic Biomass Conversion

• Thermochemical conversion of lignocellulose to syngas followed by chemical synthesis of acetic acid.
• Less mature than microbial routes but suitable for large-scale and continuous systems.

Case Study: LanzaTech’s CO₂-to-Acetic Acid Project with RWDC

Highlights:

• LanzaTech uses engineered microbes to convert CO₂ and H₂ into acetic acid through gas fermentation.
• Acetic acid is used as a feedstock for PHA bioplastic production by RWDC Industries (Singapore/USA).
• The partnership enables waste carbon valorization for biopolymer production.

Timeline & Outcome:

• 2021: Collaboration framework signed.
• 2022: Pilot-scale acetic acid from CO₂ demonstrated at LanzaTech’s facility.
• 2023: Integration with RWDC’s PHA downstream processes begins.
• 2024–2025: Commercial-scale facility planning and technology licensing underway.

Global Startups Working on Biobased Acetic Acid

• LanzaTech (USA): Converts industrial emissions (CO, CO₂) to acetic acid and other chemicals via gas fermentation.
• W2F (Austria): Develops acetic acid from waste-to-liquid technologies using organic MSW and syngas routes.
• ZymoChem (USA): Uses non-CO₂-producing fermentation platforms for green chemicals, including acetic acid intermediates.
• Carbon Recycling International (Iceland): Converts CO₂ and H₂ into methanol and acetic acid precursors.

India’s Position

India produces acetic acid primarily from fossil-based methanol (over 500,000 tons/year). Companies like GNFC, Jubilant Ingrevia, and Laxmi Organic dominate. Biobased acetic acid is at the research stage, with institutes like CSIR-IICT and ICT Mumbai exploring fermentation from sugarcane bagasse and industrial off-gases. However, no Indian startup has yet entered commercial biobased acetic acid production.

Commercialization Outlook

Market & Demand:

• Global acetic acid market: $13.5B in 2024, projected to reach $18.7B by 2030.
• Key uses: VAM (adhesives, paints), acetic anhydride, food preservative, PHA bioplastics.

Key Drivers:

• Growing demand for bio-based packaging and polymers.
• Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) initiatives accelerating CO₂-to-acetic acid pathways.
• Interest in sustainable solvents and food-grade applications.

Challenges:

• Cost: Fermentative production still costs more than fossil acetic acid ($600–800/ton).
• Yield & productivity: Strain engineering and inhibitor tolerance from lignocellulosic feedstocks are key barriers.
• Purification: Separation from broth or gas stream is energy-intensive.
• Infrastructure gap: Lack of established supply chains for biomass-based or syngas-based routes.

Progress Indicators

• 2010–2015: LanzaTech develops gas fermentation platform for acetic acid and ethanol.
• 2021: Partnership with RWDC announced.
• 2022: CO₂-to-acetic acid at pilot scale validated.
• 2023–2024: Planning for commercial integration with PHA plants.
• India: CSIR-IICT and ICT Mumbai ongoing work on bagasse and sugar feedstocks.

TRL: Fermentation from sugars – TRL 6–8; gas fermentation (CO/CO₂) – TRL 5–7; catalytic biomass conversion – TRL 4–6.

Conclusion

Biobased acetic acid is emerging as a versatile platform chemical in the low-carbon chemical economy. Companies like LanzaTech and RWDC are pioneering carbon-negative routes using gas fermentation, while startups like ZymoChem explore novel microbe platforms. India holds significant potential, with abundant biomass and sugar streams, though commercial deployment remains in the early stages. As demand grows for renewable solvents and bio-based polymers, acetic acid from biomass and gases will play a critical role in sustainable materials production.

Wish to have bio-innovations industry or market research support from specialists for climate & environment? Talk to BioBiz team – Call Muthu at +91-9952910083 or send a note to ask@biobiz.in