Noroo Group has secured a government national project related to “3-HP (3-Hydroxypropionic Acid)” and is accelerating efforts to commercialize bio-based materials.

Noroo Holdings announced on the 26th that it was recently selected as the final implementing organization for the project “Technology Development for Raw Material Production and High Value-Added Products to Revitalize the Bio-Derived Polymer Market,” supervised by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT).

The government’s 3-HP project is a national carbon-neutrality initiative in which the government provides funding and companies and universities jointly develop technologies to replace petroleum-based plastic and chemical raw materials with the eco-friendly bio-substance 3-HP, produced using microorganisms (utilizing waste resources).

3-HP is one of the “12 most valuable bio-based platform chemicals in the world,” selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This substance is known as a key material with virtually limitless potential, as it can be converted into a wide range of chemical structures, from cosmetics to coatings and eco-friendly plastics.

In this project, Noroo Holdings will oversee the entire process from securing raw materials to production, conducting a demonstration of mass production of 3-HP using waste biomass. The specific tasks include: △ development of bio-derived acrylic acid-based polymer materials △ demonstration of mass production of 3-HP using waste biomass △ demonstration of bio-acrylic acid production based on 3-HP catalytic reactions.

? Synergy effects within the group are also anticipated. The core affiliate Noroo Paint will be responsible for the task “Demonstration of bio-acrylic acid production based on 3-HP catalytic reactions,” carrying out processes that convert 3-HP into industrial raw materials and studying the potential to replace acrylic acid—until now fully dependent on petrochemical processes—with bio-based materials. In particular, this project plans to focus on securing a “total value chain” from raw material production to final products through industry–academia–research collaboration, with the participation of multiple joint research institutions.

? A representative of the Noroo Bio Business Promotion Team stated, “Whereas the industrial bio (industrial biotech) field has so far been driven mainly by research (R), this demonstration project marks a transition into a full-fledged development and commercialization (D) phase, accompanied by actual pilot facility investment,” adding, “We will strive to further expand development projects for industrial bio-substances in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy going forward.”

Popular News