Ajinomoto and Toray Industries have joined forces to start joint research for manufacturing the nylon raw material, 1,5-pentanediamine (1,5-PD), from the amino acid lysine.
The biobased nylon is produced from plant materials by decarbonating the amino acid lysine through an enzyme reaction to make 1,5-PD, which Toray then polymerises with dicarboxylic acid.
The plant-based biobased nylon is sustainable and used to develop highly comfortable clothing.
Ajinomoto and Toray have already conducted successful test production of 1,5-PD using Ajinomoto's feed-use lysine, as well as test production of biobased nylon.
The two companies plan to further broaden the scope of their collaboration to include the development of production processes and evaluation of biobased nylon to use in textile and plastics applications.
Both companies will also extend their collaboration with a view towards using the membrane-integrated bioprocess being developed by Toray in the production technology for lysine, the raw material for 1,5-PD.
Toray's membrane-integrated bioprocess comprises three processes, including a membrane separation process for cellulosic sugars, a membrane-integrated fermentation reactor, and a purification system using a membrane.
Ajinomoto is involved in the manufacture of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals.
Toray manufactures and sales fibres and textiles, plastics and chemicals, IT-related products, carbon fibre composite materials, environment and engineering, life science and other products.
