Bio-Aspartic^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a sustainable amino acid that is used as a precursor for the low-calorie sweetener aspartame, and the biodegradable polymer polyaspartate.

Lygos' sustainable aspartic acid monomer can replace the incumbent process that relies on a petrochemical derived C4 feedstock. In replacing the petrochemical process, our Bio-Aspartic Acid reduces the mismatch between volatile petroleum prices and the relatively more stable polyacrylate market.

Lygos’ technology platform enables repeatable and high purity organic acids and provides a superior alternative for highly variable and impure competitive products. Our novel anaerobic route to biosynthesize aspartic acid from glucose is enabled by the discovery of a new enzyme.

Cannabinoids

Our bio-based solution is a natural replacement for plant derived cannabinoids and a development platform for novel cannabinoid derivatives.

Lygos has developed a novel cannabinoid production pathway based on a proprietary fermentation and processing technology that enables the production of any cannabinoid. By using only selected portions of the plant's metabolic pathway, issues of separation and purification are greatly minimized in comparison to plant-based production. Our process provides a high-performance alternative to agricultural-based production of cannabinoids in a sustainable and cost effective manner.

Our modular platform can synthesize a variety of ultra-rare and common cannabinoids and also allows for extensibility into the production of both the acid forms and analogous decarboxylated molecules. In delivering high quality, ultra-pure and sustainable cannabinoids at commercially relevant volumes, we believe our cannabinoid platform can address widespread consumer adoption.

In addition to the production of natural molecules, it is also possible to create cannabinoid-like derivatives that can be pharmaceutically active as new molecular entities. Not only can the platform deliver plant-based cannabinoids, but also can develop unique and novel compounds for applications in targeting the human endocannabinoid system.

Bio-Glyceric^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a natural C3-sugar acid which can be used as a multifunctional monomer to produce a series of chemical products.

Glyceric acid cannot be readily accessed at low costs from existing petrochemical feedstocks. Our Bio-Glyceric Acid can be efficiently produced biologically, enabling access to a variety of existing and novel materials such as biodegradable superabsorbent polymers [e.g. poly (glycerate carbonate)]. Driven by more widespread adoption of eco-friendly products, the superabsorbent polymer market is growing due to increased demand for diapers, feminine hygiene products and medical dressings.

Lygos has discovered that glyceric acid can be produced using two different biosynthetic pathways. With a high theoretical yield, we can efficiently convert sugar to glyceric acid, a feature that offers compelling commercial operating costs. We believe that Lygos is the first company to report glyceric acid production from glucose at higher than trace amounts.

Bio-Glycolic^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a sustainable C2-hydroxyacid that is widely used today in skin care and personal care products, as well as a precursor for biopolymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA).

The incumbent petrochemical routes, which use either toxic chloroacetic acid or formaldehyde as feedstocks, are challenged to produce glycolic acid free of hazardous impurities. Glycolic acid also remains expensive due to the technical challenges of making the high-purity material required for producing PGA, restricting supply chains from meeting high-volume market demand.

Lygos’ Bio-Glycolic Acid bypasses feedstock and impurity concerns, while also providing lower manufacturing costs due to our high performing strains. These technological advancements are expanding the market for PGA that has high strength, heat tolerance and biodegradable characteristics. In addition, PGA has excellent gas-barrier properties translating to increased product shelf life, which is an important competitive advantage in the food and beverage packaging market.

As the first company to produce higher-performance, bio-based glycolic acid, Lygos is well positioned to capture the majority of new global demand.

Bio-Isobutyric^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a short chain C4-organic acid monomer used as a precursor in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food additives, fibers, solvents, and plastics.

Isobutyric acid is traditionally produced via high pressure hydrocarboxylation from unsustainable petroleum feedstocks. This process involves strong acids, carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride, which may cause environmental damage. Lygos’ Bio-Isobutyric Acid addresses these problems by replacing the harmful chemical synthesis with high-yielding and environmentally friendly microbial biosynthesis.

Of primary interest, isobutyric acid and its derivative esters can be synthetically converted to methacrylates, which are important polymers (e.g. plexiglass) for automotive applications, building and construction and electronics. In comparison to other monomers with equivalent market applications and scale, methacrylates are relatively expensive, providing an opportunity for Lygos’ low-cost, sustainable processes to supplant incumbent routes.

Bio-Lactic^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a C3-hydroxy acid, which has traditionally been used in food preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. More recently, the market for lactic acid has expanded significantly due to the increased demand for poly-lactic acid (PLA), a green biopolymer alternative with greater biodegradability and reduced carbon footprint when compared to petroleum-based plastics.

Lactic acid ranks among the highest volume chemicals produced fermentatively. However, its resulting biopolymers still face two major challenges when competing in the petroleum-based plastics marketplace. PLA’s production costs must be minimized, and its heat performance must be increased in order to expand the polymer’s market use.

Lygos’ Bio-Lactic Acid offers signficantly lower costs through the combination of faster production rates, higher yields, decreased acid and base usage, and a simplified purification process, among others. In addition, Lygos has demonstrated efficient and selective production of both L- and D-lactic acids in a pure manner, which is particularly important as blends between poly L/D lactic acid enantiomers increase the heat performance of PLA-based materials, whereas chemical routes produce an uncontrolled racemic mixture. These technology benefits expand Lygos’ market for lactic acid and its derivatives for different applications.

Bio-Malonic^™ Acid

Our bio-based solution is a sustainable C3-dicarboxylic acid that can be used to produce numerous flavors, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, and many other applications.

Malonic acid and its esters have historically been produced from a cyanide and chloroacetic acid process, two costly and environmentally hazardous chemicals. A significant portion of the world’s supply is produced in China as more highly regulated countries, such as the US and EU, are unwilling to take on these significant environmental and health risks.

Lygos is the first and only company to demonstrate the production of a bio-based analog of malonic acid that provides identical performance without the incumbent toxic production process. By decreasing the current cost of production, Lygos’ Bio-Malonic Acid is being applied in numerous traditional industrial applications for polymers, solvents and adhesive molecules. We have identified over $1 billion in annual derivative specialty chemical demand that can be accessed from our malonic acid precursor.