US nylon 6/6 giant INVISTA and New Zealand LanzaTech are developing bio-based pathways to produce a raw material for the engineering resin.
INVISTA said the partners have developed a series of metabolic methods to produce butadiene, a chemical intermediate used to produce adiponitrile, an important precursor of nylon 6/6. The two parties used detailed knowledge of the composition of the bacteria that make up the coaxial, using gas fermentation of waste products to produce butanediol, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
INVISTA and LanzaTech have stated that they aim to commercialize the technology within a few years. This technology uses genetically modified bacteria and is an economical and sustainable source of nylon precursors, eliminating the need to rely on petrochemicals made from oil and gas.
LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren said: "By utilizing waste carbon resources, we are separating butadiene production from today's commercial raw materials."