DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products bring renewably sourced materials to the global market
In May 2004, DuPont and Tate & Lyle joined forces to commercialize a new renewably sourced bio-material that would help reduce the global economy’s reliance on petroleum-based materials. Today marks the culmination of that project, with the official opening of a Bio-PDO™manufacturing facility in Loudon, Tenn. – one of the largest bio-materials processing facilities in the world and the only one of its kind.
The production of Bio-PDO™ consumes 40 percent less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent versus petroleum-based propanediol. Production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO™ will save the energy equivalent of over 15 million gallons of gasoline per year, or enough to fuel more than 27,000 cars annually, which is nearly half of the cars in Loudon County, Tenn. Bio-PDO™ has a number of potential uses, either as a material itself or as an ingredient in or building block for the production of other materials.
In 2000, DuPont in association with Genencor developed a patented process to create 1,3-propanediol (PDO) using corn as the raw material in place of petroleum. DuPont then partnered with Tate & Lyle and together through the DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products joint venture produced the first commercial shipment of Bio-PDO™ in November 2006. Bio-PDO™ will be available this fall in products including Mohawk’s SmartStrand™ with DuPont™ Sorona®residential carpeting, Sorona® textiles and airport runway de-icing fluids.
Over a dozen products can be made today using Bio-PDO™ as a key ingredient. The primary brands are Zemea™ renewably sourced propanediol and Susterra™ renewably sourced propanediol. Zemea™ propanediol offers a high purity level and low irritation to the personal care and liquid detergent applications. Susterra™ propanediol provides low toxicity and biodegradability to applications such as deicing fluids, anti-freeze and heat transfer fluids. In deicing applications, it significantly reduces energy use and emissions over other propylene glycol formulations. Susterra™ propanediol is also a key ingredient for Sorona® and Cerenol™, DuPont’s newest renewably sourced polymer families.
Bio-PDO™ is the key ingredient for Sorona®, the latest polymer invention from DuPont. Fibers that contain these polymers have unique properties that include a very soft hand-feel, comfort stretch and recovery, easy dyeability, natural stain resistance and easy-care characteristics. Additional attributes imparted to fabrics by fibers made from Sorona® polymer are chlorine and UV resistance, rapid drying, colorfastness, static protection, and resilience. Sorona® is currently sold to licensees throughout the world.
A new line of residential carpeting offered by Mohawk Industries includes the innovative technology of DuPont™ Sorona®. Mohawk Industries’ CEO Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum said, “This product will do things that others cannot, making it the biggest fiber innovation we have seen in 20 years. Our confidence in this product is evidenced by Mohawk’s first-ever Limited Lifetime Warranty offer for stain resistance. SmartStrand™ made with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer offers consumers the durability of nylon with remarkable stain resistance. Rarely do consumers get a luxuriously soft carpet with these benefits.”
The teams at DuPont, Tate & Lyle, and Genencor International have been selected to receive the ACS Heroes of Chemistry 2007 Award for their work on the “Commercial Production of Bio-PDO™ (1,3-Propanediol) by a Novel Biological Pathway”. This award recognizes industrial chemical innovators and their companies whose work has led to the welfare and progress of humanity.
In 2003, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency presented DuPont with its annual “Presidential Green Chemistry Award” for the company’s research leading to the development of the Bio-PDO™ process.
The DuPont Oval, DuPont™ and The miracles of science™, Bio-PDO™ and Sorona® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. SmartStrand™ is a trademark of Mohawk Industries, Inc
Susterra™ and Zemea™ propanediol are trademarks of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, LLC www.duponttateandlyle.com
Learn more about Susterra® and Zemea® propanediol