German chemical giant BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) is joining hands with enzyme specialist Novozymes (Bagsvaerd / Denmark; www.novozymes.com) and Cargill (Minneapolis, Minnesota / USA; www.cargill.com) in the development of an industrial biotechnology-based production process for acrylic acid sourced from renewable raw materials, specifically dextrose derived from agricultural products, mostly corn.

The recently announced collaboration builds on the partnership between Novozymes and Cargill – in place in 2008 – to develop microorganisms that can convert renewable feedstock into 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), a chemical precursor for acrylic acid. Using this collaboration as a base, BASF now plans to develop a process to convert 3-HP into acrylic acid. Initial applications are superabsorbent polymers used in baby diapers, although the renewable acrylic acid could also find application in adhesive raw materials and coatings.

BASF estimates the global acrylic acid market to stand at about 4.5m t and a total value of USD 11 bn, growing at an average rate of 4% each year.