LG Chem, a manufacturer of plastics precursors, will start commercial production of bio-based acrylic acid in the second quarter of 2025.
The South Korean company aims to ramp up production capacity up to 100 tonnes per year.
Bio-acrylic acid can be applied to various materials, including cosmetic ingredients that come into direct contact with skin, super absorbent polymers for diapers, adhesives for electronics and vehicles, coating materials, and paints.
Production of bio-based acrylic acid has so far failed to reach commercial-scale, with most attempts frustrated by high costs. BASF’s proprietary process for mass production of 2-Octyl Acrylate (2-OA), a bio-based acrylic monomer, is a notable exception. The company set up an industrial-scale production facility at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, in September 2023.
LG Chem's bio-acrylic acid is made from 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3HP), produced by microbial fermentation of vegetable oils. The company claims the bio-based acid retains the same molecular structure and properties as conventional acrylic acid.
The 100% bio-based 3HP strain and fermentation technology was developed in-house and has received the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product label.
LG Chem plans to operate a customised bio-acrylic acid production system that can respond immediately to customer needs and is considering expanding production facilities if market demand increases.
Starting with prototype production, the company plans to actively promote the product to companies in North America and Europe. The cosmetics industry, which increasingly demands plant-based and naturally derived ingredients without compromising functionality, is expected 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 acrylates/SAP business unit at LG Chem.