South Korean researchers nail waste-based naptha alternative
In South Korea, KAIST-Hanwha Solutions Future Technology Research Institute, has secured bio-technology capable of mass-producing eco-friendly raw materials for plastics and textiles using waste resources, offering an alternative to petroleum-derived naphtha. The new technology addresses both resource supply stability and environmental concerns simultaneously.
The study was published in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering. This platform uses glycerol as feedstock. The team engineered high-efficiency microorganisms to convert this waste into 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), a key material for plastics and cosmetics, and optimized the fermentation process for industrial application.
The research team succeeded in maintaining a high production level even in a 300L pilot process, which serves as a test production stage before application in large-scale plant facilities, moving beyond the laboratory scale.
Category: Research
