GC Wins Bio-Muconic Acid Technology Award, Turning Residues into High-Value Chemicals
PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) has received the Outstanding Technologist Award 2026 for its innovation in producing Bio-Muconic Acid through synthetic biology and precision fermentation to support the development of Thailand’s bio-based economy. The award was presented at the Outstanding Technologist Awards and TechInno Forum 2026, organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of His Majesty the King, at C asean Ratchada in Bangkok. The recognition highlights the capabilities of Thai researchers in applying advanced technologies to add value to agricultural resources and create new opportunities for Thailand’s industrial sector.
Bio-Muconic Acid is a bio-based chemical that can be further developed into feedstocks for a wide range of high-value products, including specialty chemicals, materials for the automotive and coatings industries, and bio-based Nylon 6,6, which can be used to produce fibers for the textile industry. A key feature of this innovation is its use of agricultural residues from Thailand, such as sugarcane bagasse and cassava pulp, as feedstocks for bio-based chemical production, reducing reliance on conventional petrochemical raw materials. This approach creates opportunities to unlock value from underutilized resources while meeting the industrial sector’s growing demand for bio-based materials.
Following more than 200 laboratory experiments, GC’s research team successfully scaled up the production process to a 50,000-liter semi-industrial fermenter, marking a world-first achievement. The team applied synthetic biology to develop microorganisms capable of producing the target compound, combined with precision fermentation to control the production process and advanced purification techniques to achieve high product purity. In 2025 (2568), the team successfully scaled up production from small laboratory fermenters to a semi-industrial level. This milestone represents an important step in advancing the technology beyond laboratory research and preparing it for further development toward future commercial production.
This achievement has also led to a collaboration between GC and Japan-based Toray Industries, Inc. to further develop Bio-Muconic Acid into bio-based adipic acid, one of the key raw materials used in the production of bio-based Nylon 6,6. The collaboration demonstrates the potential to connect Thailand’s agricultural sector with high-value industries while advancing alternative materials that can reduce dependence on fossil-based resources and meet growing demand for more environmentally friendly products.
The award recognizes the achievements of GC’s researchers, whose commitment to innovation, experimentation and continuous research has created new opportunities to utilize agricultural residues and transform them into high-value bio-based chemicals with potential applications in global industries. This achievement aligns with GC’s “StandOut Through INnovation” concept, which encourages employees to turn their creativity and expertise into value-generating innovations. It also reinforces GC’s role as an innovation-driven organization focused on practical implementation and creating new opportunities for Thailand’s industrial sector and bio-based economy.
