As the world looks at ever-raising energy prices, a product that uses corn sugar and a simple fermenter to create a high-valued chemical is a value indeed, meeting DuPont's global commitment to providing new products that replace petrochemicals with renewable resources.
DuPont has successfully developed the technology to manufacture 1,3 propanediol or PDO using a fermentation process based on corn sugar, a renewable resource. PDO is a key ingredient in Sorona® polymer.
In March 2004 DuPont formed a joint venture with Tate & Lyle, Plc., a major corn-based products company with expertise in fermentation processes, to produce 1,3 propanediol the key ingredient for Sorona® polymer. The joint venture, DuPont Tate & Lyle BioProducts, has built one of the largest bio-materials processing facilities in the world in Loudon, Tennessee. When the plant is operational in late 2006, it is capable of producing 100 million pounds per year of a new bio-material, Bio-PDO™. This new ingredient can go into a variety of products and markets and is a step towards reducing the global economy's reliance on petroleum-based materials.
The production of Bio-PDO™ consumes about 40 percent less energy than its petroleum-based counterpart. Production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO™ in the Loudon plant will save the equivalent of 10 million gallons of gasoline per year.
DuPont™ Sorona® is the first of many renewably-sourced products DuPont is bringing to market.
The possibilities are endless. . .
