Nexant report looks at development of bio-acrylics for diapers to paints

In Massachusetts, Nexant has published a new multi-client report, “From Diapers to Paints – Is Bio-Acrylic Acid on the Way?”, to investigate new developing routes to acrylic acid, including technology and economic analyses for acrylic acid produced via renewable sources (including sugar, biomass, and glycerol) versus petrochemical sources (including propylene, propane, and ethylene oxide).

Acrylic acid and its esters are among the most versatile monomers for providing performance properties to a wide variety of polymers. The major application for acrylic acid is as a feedstock for acrylate esters which are used in applications that include surface coating, adhesives and sealants, textiles, plastic additives, and paper treatment.

The report looks at efforts by Arkema, Cargill, Genomatica, Metabolix, Nippon Shokubai, and OPX Biotechnologies to produce acrylic acid and acrylates from renewable resources (such as sugar and glycerol) using biotransformation techniques.