SUMATRA BIORENEWABLES

Sumatra Biorenewables, LLC is a startup that specializes in the production of trans‐3‐hexenedioic acid (3HDA), a novel biobased monomer manufactured from biologically‐produced muconic acid (MA). The introduction of 3HDA in polyamides or polyesters through copolymerization or compounding provides an ethylenic bond that enables the production of materials with tailored functional properties without altering the intrinsic nature of the polymeric material.

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Sumatra Biorenewables, a standalone company based in Ames, IA, was founded to develop novel technologies for the production of bio-advantaged materials with enhanced tailored properties, as well as the raw materials that facilitate the synthesis of them.

We are in the process of scaling up the production of the first hydrophobic nylon 6,6 in the market, which will be sent to consumers in different target sectors for testing.

Conventional nylon 6,6, made of two monomers: adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, has many desirable properties like high strength and chemical resistance, however when exposed to water these physical properties are diminished.

Sumatra makes use of 3-hexenedioic acid, HDA, a monomer derived from the fermentation of sugars and only differs to adipic acid by having a double bond in the middle of the carbon chain. This bond allows the functionalization of the nylon 6,6, to add new properties to the end material. For instance, the new Bio-Advantaged Nylon can be made hydrophobic, anti-static, anti-microbial, or have tuned mechanical strength to meet customer specifications.

The conversion technology is inexpensive, robust, unaffected by feedstock impurities, and can produce HDA being cost competitive when compared to adipic acid.

New properties added to the end material:

Sumatra’s renewable monomers give access to performance
nylon polyamides with tailorable functional properties.

Our renewable monomers give access to performance nylon polyamides with tailorable functional properties for applications in the automotive, food & beverage packaging, textiles, and other industries.

The revolutionary technology will be a disruptive force to the $40 billion nylon polyamide industry by addressing nylon’s weaknesses such as undesired moisture adsorption, which results in loss of dimensional stability and tensile strength. These shortcomings lead industries to make compromises in selecting their materials; for instance, longer chain polyamides are used for moisture resistance but at the expense of desired viscoelastic properties.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES, CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

Sumatra’s bio-advantaged monomers will:

Help ease reliance on petroleum-based chemicals resulting in greener production processes and a cleaner environment.

Present new opportunities for innovation and use of performance plastics due to the platform that bio-advantaged monomers offer.

Sumatra Biorenewables is partnering with muconic acid producers of to provide the fermentation broth and help manufacture and commercialize the 3HDA.

OUR TEAM

Nacu Hernandez, Ph.D.

President CEO

Sundeep Vani, Ph.D.

Chief Development Officer

Sumatra is looking for manufacturing partners for the production of the monomer and the partners for the production of the functionalized polymers. Sumatra is also looking for potential licensors of the different developed technologies.

PUBLICATIONS

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