Toray, PTT Explore Technology for Non-edible Biomass-derived Polyamide

Japan’s Toray Industries has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical (GC) to explore mass production technology for adipic acid made from non-edible biomass. Adipic acid is a key raw material for polymerization of polyamide (PA) 66.

Toray and GC executives ink the MoU for bio-based polyamide production. Image courtesy of Toray Industries.

Toray and GC will jointly evaluate the feasibility of mass production technology and commercialization in Thailand and Japan. If the technology is determined to be viable, the aim is to commercially manufacture several thousand metric tons of bio-based muconic and bio-based adipic acid annually by 2030.

Last year, both companies began jointly developing technology to produce these raw materials for PA 66 from non-edible biomass-derived sugars made at Cellulosic Biomass Technology, a Thai company in which Toray has an 84% stake.

Eco-friendly polyamide production

GC employs its proprietary fermentation technology to quickly convert non-edible sugars into high yields of muconic acid. Toray then utilizes its hydrogenation process to produce high yields of high-purity bio-adipic acid from the muconic acid. The resulting bio-based adipic acid can serve as a raw material for PA 66 that is similar to petroleum-derived PA 66. Furthermore, the manufacturing process does not generate nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas byproduct typically associated with chemical synthesis–based processes.

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Polyamide is polymerized from bio-based adipic acid via muconic acid. Image courtesy of Toray Industries.

Supply chain under construction

Eventually, Toray and GC will build a supply chain to manufacture tens of thousands of tonnes of bio-based adipic acid from agricultural waste in Thailand, which is rich in natural resources. They will use this acid to make eco-friendly PA 66, assisting efforts to create a circular economy and lower greenhouse-gas emissions.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) selected this study for its fiscal 2023 supplementary subsidy for the Global South Future-oriented Co-creation Project (Survey on the Promotion of Overseas Development of Infrastructure by Japanese Companies).