Biomaterials

Cosun biobased products (CBP) offers biobased solutions. The activities range from development to manufacturing and supply of biobased functional chemicals. Within Cosun R&D and CBP, we have developed a biorefinery concept on sugar beet pulp. Within this flexible concept, we are able to isolate cellulosic fibers, and different monosaccharides. One of the key

monosaccharides is D-galacturonic acid. Using mild processing conditions, galacturonic acid can be isolated and selectively oxidized to galactaric acid (commercial name: mucic acid). This molecule has multiple outlets including health sciences. It offers unique functionalities, which are already used in pharmaceutical applications (for example isometheptene mucate). For higher volume outlets, biomaterials can be made using galactaric acid as an intermediate to GalX. This novel platform building block shows new opportunities to polymers and crosslinkers. In shared research with universities, GalX shows good Mw, Tg and E modulus compared to industrial benchmarks. Besides these parameters, the improved water solubility compared to adipic acid is an unmet market need for new formulations.