AGRE-0007 Production and Utilisation of D-Galacturonic Acid as a Basic Chemical Substrate

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Biological Conversion : Detergents : ECLAIR Cluster III - Carbohydrates : Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics : Sugar

CURRENT STATE OF THE PROJECT

The grave global problems concerning environmental pollution and the management of fossil fuels has stimulated the major agricultural economic players to develop a serious interest in the non-food applications of primary renewable materials.

The groups SUCRE UNION and CHAMPAGNE CEREALS aided by their research structure ARD (Agro industrie Recherches et Developpements) have investigated this option by developing a concept of global valorisation of the plant using the technologies of enzymatic liquification and fractionation of the entire root systems for plants such as sugar beet and chicory.

Obtaining pure competitive priced Galacturonic acid from these sources is the major objective of this programme along with the following derivatives and applications:

• The production of hydrocarbons of weak calorific value such as L-Galactose
• Obtaining calcium sequestrants which can replace phosphates in washing detergents such as galactonic, and galactaric acid
• Preparation of biodegradable non-ionic and anionic surfactants (grafting galacturonic acid onto fatty acid chains)

The efforts are therefore consecrated towards obtaining D-galacturonic acid at the best possible market price and evaluating it taking into account the actual or perceived medium term constraints of the market

ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF D-GALACTURONIC ACID

The procedure is operational at industrial levels. Batches of 100 kg can be prepared with a purity of 99%. The yields from sugar beet pulp hydrolysis can still be improved.

PREPARATION AND METABOLISM OF L-GALACTOSE

The yields of L-galactose synthesis are still too low for a sufficient applications within the project. The metabolic tests confirm the nonassimilation of the sugar.

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF THE SURFACTANT DERIVATIVES OF D-GALACTURONIC ACID

Chemical rather than enzymatic methods permit high yields of neutral or anionic derivatives of D-galacturonic acid. Prepared according to environmental regulations these biodegradable products find applications in many industrial contexts such as the detergent, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries. They form part of a patent application in Europe, USA and Japan, and certain examples of them are now in the industrial phase of development.