Dupont Tate & Lyle To Expand Bio-Based Propanediol Production At US Facility

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, a food and industrial ingredients joint venture between DuPont and Tate & Lyle, is set to increase annual production of bio-based 1,3-propanediol by 35 million pounds at its facility in Loudon, Tennessee (USA).

Engineering and construction is scheduled to start immediately and the expansion is expected to be complete mid-2019.

Formed in 2004, DuPont Tate & Lyle utilises a proprietary process that uses plant-based feedstocks to produce bio-based 1,3-propanediol. The joint venture provides solutions for a wide variety of markets and applications through its bio-based performance brands Susterra and Zemea propanediol, in addition to Bio-PDO, the key ingredient for DuPont’s Sorona polymers.

“Our continued growth is a testament to our ability to meet the performance requirements of demanding applications with our plant-based ingredients,” explained Mr. Todd Sutton, President, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products.

“The versatility of the product has powered the Sorona fibre business growth as well as fuelled the expansion for Zemea and Susterra propanediol. The benefits of creating high-performing solutions in combination with renewability provides opportunities for us to continue to expand our market reach in the cosmetics, personal care, flavours, fibres and polyurethanes markets, as well as many other applications,” he added.

Sorona is said to bring unique performance-based benefits to fibres used in apparel and carpet markets. Zemea propanediol is touted as a multi-functional, preservative-boosting humectant and ingredient that delivers high performance in a variety of consumer applications from personal care, flavours and pharmaceuticals to laundry and household cleaning. Susterra propanediol is the building block that delivers high performance in polyurethanes, fluids and other industrial applications.