Toray and PTT explore biobased adipic acid

The Thai petrochemical maker PTT Global is partnering with the Japanese polymer firm Toray to scale up biobased production of adipic acid, a raw material for nylon 6,6. The deal is an extension of bench- and pilot-scale collaboration the two firms have had since last year. PTT is contributing a fermentation process that converts inedible sugars into muconic acid; Toray is bringing a hydrogenation process to turn that into adipic acid. This biobased route avoids nitrous oxide emissions associated with petroleum-derived adipic acid, the firms say.