Turning Sugar into a Valuable Chemical: A Scientific Breakthrough Opens the Door to an Environmentally Friendly Chemical Industry
A research team from the U.S. Department of Energy's Center for Advanced Innovation in Bioenergy and Bioproducts at the University of Illinois at Capy has successfully converted sugar molecules into a valuable chemical used in the manufacture of baby diapers, paints, and plastics. This scientific breakthrough opens the door to a less polluting and more profitable chemical industry.
The substance produced is 3-hydroxypropionic acid, the building block for acrylic acid, one of the world's most important industrial chemicals. The acrylic acid market is estimated at around $20 billion, with global demand exceeding 6.6 million tons annually.
The primary method for producing acrylic acid relies on petroleum derivatives through energy-intensive chemical processes, making it expensive and environmentally damaging. However, the research team succeeded in converting sugar into 3-hydroxypropionic acid using a special type of yeast that tolerates high acidity, which simplifies the fermentation process and reduces costs. The team used advanced genetic engineering tools to enhance production efficiency, achieving a 70% efficiency rate and a concentration of 92 grams per liter. These results clearly exceed the minimum required for industrial profitability.
This achievement opens the door to a more environmentally friendly chemical industry and reinforces sugar's position as an environmentally friendly raw material. It also underscores the importance of scientific research in developing new and sustainable industries.
The research team also conducted comprehensive economic and environmental analyses, demonstrating that converting the bioproduced 3-hydroxypropionic acid into acrylic acid was financially viable, had a lower environmental impact, and was applicable on a large industrial scale.
This discovery could have a significant impact on the global chemical industry, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemicals. It could also contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting a sustainable economy.
