Industrial Microbes (iMicrobes), a leader in biotech, announced a major breakthrough. They successfully produced 100% biobased, high-purity acrylic acid at scale. The process uses advanced fermentation technology.
Backed by BioMADE, this achievement marks a step toward reducing carbon in chemical manufacturing.
Ashley Arnell from BioMADE said, “This project shows how U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing can deliver key materials without relying on imports. Scaling this process improves domestic supply chains for high-value chemicals.”
Acrylic acid is vital in many products. It is used in paints, adhesives, electronics, and super absorbent polymers for diapers. The market is expected to reach $18 billion by 2030.
iMicrobes has rapidly scaled its bioprocess from lab to production. They moved from grams to 20-kilogram batches. Fermenter size grew from 2 liters to 1,500 liters. This 750-fold increase proves the process’s scalability.
CEO Noah Helman explained, “We developed an efficient bioprocess that makes biobased chemicals competitive with petrochemicals. Our process is designed for cost and net-zero materials.” He credited BioMADE’s support for helping them demonstrate commercial potential.
The breakthrough lies in using ethanol as a renewable feedstock. Proprietary microbes combine multiple reactions in one reactor at mild temperatures. Their purification method avoids toxic solvents and complex extraction steps. This could reduce costs compared to traditional methods.
The platform extends beyond acrylic acid. It can produce related chemicals like acrylonitrile. This chemical is used to make carbon fiber, which is strong and lightweight. The same bioprocess, with different downstream reactions, accelerates bio-acrylonitrile development. This positions iMicrobes at the heart of domestic biomanufacturing, especially as the U.S. imports nearly half of its carbon fiber.
Market demand is already evident: iMicrobes has secured multiple Letters of Intent from industry partners. They are exploring more collaborations.
