Bio-based Chemicals: From Platform Molecules to Application Scenarios — Trend Insights and Aladdin’s Product Portfolio

Basic Concepts

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual-carbon” goals and growing green consumption, the terms “bio-based”, “biodegradable”, and “natural” are often mentioned together and even used interchangeably. To understand the true value of bio-based chemicals, it is essential to first clarify several core concepts.

1. Distinguishing Between Biomass, Bio-based, and Biodegradable

(1) Biomass

Biomass generally refers to plants, animals, microorganisms, and their derivatives formed via photosynthesis. Typical examples include crop straw, wood, vegetable oils, animal fats, and by-products from food processing. These are the main raw material sources for bio-based chemicals.

(2) Bio-based

“Bio-based” means that the carbon in a product is derived from renewable biomass rather than fossil resources such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas.

The term bio-based emphasizes “where the carbon comes from.”

(3) Biodegradable

“Biodegradable” refers to materials that can be broken down by microorganisms into small molecules such as carbon dioxide, water and/or methane under specific environmental conditions (e.g., compost, soil, seawater).

The term biodegradable emphasizes “how the material returns to the environment after use.”

It is particularly important to emphasize that:

· Bio-based ≠ necessarily biodegradable

· Biodegradable ≠ necessarily bio-based

For example, certain bio-based polyamides are not readily biodegradable, while some biodegradable polyesters may still contain monomers derived from fossil resources.

2. Relationship Between Bio-based Materials and Bio-based Chemicals

According to relevant national standards, bio-based materials are a broad category that typically includes:

1. Bio-based chemicals

2. Bio-based polymers and plastics

3. Bio-based chemical fibers and bio-based rubber

4. Bio-based coatings, bio-based material additives, and bio-based composites

5. Various products manufactured from the above materials

Within this system, bio-based chemicals are the fundamental building blocks of bio-based materials. They act as upstream raw materials and intermediates and, in some cases, directly participate in the formulation design of end-use applications.

In this article, we focus specifically on bio-based chemicals, examining their classification, representative examples, and applications in both research and industry, and linking these discussions to related products from Aladdin.

3. Typical Production Routes for Bio-based Chemicals

From a process-route perspective, bio-based chemicals are by no means limited to fermentation. Typical routes include:

(1) Biological fermentation routes

For example, using starch- and sugar-based feedstocks to produce platform molecules such as ethanol, lactic acid, succinic acid, and 1,3-propanediol via microbial fermentation.

(2) Enzymatic catalysis and synthetic biology routes

Using enzymes or engineered strains to achieve selective transformations under mild conditions, such as the highly selective preparation of chiral intermediates and complex natural products.

(3) Thermochemical and catalytic routes

Converting biomass into synthesis gas or bio-oil through gasification or pyrolysis, followed by chemical catalysis to obtain bio-based alkanes, aromatics, or other functional molecules.

Regardless of the route employed, as long as the main carbon source is derived from renewable biomass and the product is obtained through chemical or biological transformation, it can be classified as a bio-based chemical.

Overview of Representative Bio-based Chemicals from Aladdin

(Classified by Platform Molecules and Application)

From the perspective of “industry chain stage + downstream application”, bio-based chemicals can be broadly divided into the following categories. For the convenience of researchers and application developers, several typical representatives are listed under each category below, together with Aladdin product examples. For additional specifications, please refer to the product list at the end of this article.

It should be noted that the table below focuses on explaining, from the perspective of process route and carbon source, that these chemicals possess or have already achieved bio-based production pathways. It does not mean that all commercial products or all Aladdin specifications are currently manufactured from bio-based raw materials. The actual source should be confirmed according to the COA.

Table – Representative Bio-based Chemicals and Aladdin Product Examples

Major Category	Subcategory / Application Positioning	English Name	CAS No.	Aladdin Cat. No.	Grade or Purity	Why It Can Be Regarded / Realized as a Bio-based Chemical
Bio-based platform molecules – furan family	Sugar-platform-derived basic molecule	5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)	67-47-0	H301743	Moligand™, refined grade, ≥99.5%	Generally obtained by dehydration of sugars such as fructose, glucose, or cellulose; a typical biomass conversion product from the “sugar platform”.
Bio-based platform molecules – furan family	Platform diacid monomer	2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA)	3238-40-2	F119129	≥98%	Oxidation product of HMF; regarded as a bio-based alternative to PTA and used in bio-based polyesters such as PEF.
Bio-based platform molecules – furan family	Furan diol monomer	cis-2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran	2144-40-3	T303048	≥90%	A diol obtained by hydrogenation of HMF; can be used as a bio-based monomer for polyesters/polyurethanes or as a high-boiling solvent.
Bio-based platform molecules – furan family	Furan diol monomer	Tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dimethanol (THFDM)	104-80-3	C301744	≥90%, mixture of isomers	A hydrogenated derivative of HMF; an important bio-based diol used in polyesters, polyethers and plasticizer systems.
Bio-based platform molecules – furan family	Furan diamine monomer	2,5-Bis(aminomethyl)furan (BAMF)	2213-51-6	B355365	≥97%	A novel bio-based diamine derived from HMF via reductive amination; suitable for use in PU, PA, polyurea and related systems.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C4 bio-based platform diacid	Succinic acid	110-15-6	S108854	Moligand™, ACS, ≥99%	Already industrialized via starch-sugar fermentation; a C4 bio-based platform acid used in PBS and other polyesters, as well as in polyol synthesis.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C6 diacid (potentially bio-based)	Adipic acid	124-04-9	A108266	Ultra pure grade, ≥99.5% (HPLC)	Traditionally produced via petrochemical routes, but fermentation/catalytic routes from glucose and related sugars have been developed; an important diacid monomer for potential bio-based substitution.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C9 long-chain diacid	Azelaic acid	123-99-9	A108439	Moligand™, ≥99%	Typically obtained by oxidation of fatty acids from vegetable oils (e.g. oleic acid); a long-chain diacid derived from vegetable oils.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C10 long-chain diacid	Sebacic acid	111-20-6	S108453	≥99%	A cleavage product of castor oil; a representative bio-based long-chain diacid used in PA10-series polyamides, plasticizers and lubricating esters.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	Diol	1,3-Propanediol	504-63-2	P108206	Standard for GC, ≥99.5% (GC)	Can be prepared from glycerol or via glucose fermentation; a key bio-based diol for PTT fibers and various polyesters/polyethers.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	Diol	1,4-Butanediol (BDO)	110-63-4	B110395	Standard for GC, ≥99.5% (GC)	Bio-based BDO processes based on sugars/succinic acid have been developed; an important monomer for PBS, PBT and other polyesters as well as for polyurethanes.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	Triol platform molecule	Glycerol	56-81-5	G116202	Standard for GC, ≥99.7% (GC)	Produced by hydrolysis of triglycerides in vegetable oils or as a by-product of biodiesel; a typical renewable triol platform molecule and solvent.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C5 sugar alcohol platform	Xylitol	87-99-0	X100092	≥98%	Obtained by hydrogenation of xylose/hemicellulose; a C5 sugar alcohol platform molecule used in food and in bio-based polyether/polyester systems.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	C6 sugar alcohol platform	D-Sorbitol	50-70-4	S104837	Ultra pure grade, ≥99.5% (HPLC)	Typically produced by hydrogenation of glucose; an important C6 sugar alcohol platform molecule used in polyester polyols, plasticizers and food.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	Unsaturated diacid platform	Itaconic acid	97-65-4	I106139	≥99% (T)	An unsaturated diacid produced by sugar fermentation; regarded as an emerging bio-based platform monomer for resins and copolymers.
Bio-based platform molecules – organic acids / polyols	Keto acid platform	Levulinic acid	123-76-2	L104281	AR, Moligand™, ≥99%	An important keto-acid platform molecule obtained by acid-catalyzed degradation of cellulose/hexose sugars; used as a solvent, plasticizer and monomer.
Bio-based platform molecules – lactic acid system	C3 platform acid	DL-Lactic acid	50-21-5	L108841	ACS, ≥85%	Produced by fermentation using sugars as feedstocks; a basic raw material for PLA, lactate solvents and various bio-based products.
Bio-based platform molecules – lactic acid system	C3 platform acid (L-form)	L-Lactic acid	79-33-4	L755703	BioReagent, ≥98% (T)	L-form lactic acid obtained via targeted fermentation; used for producing highly stereoregular PLA and chiral intermediates.
Bio-based monomers and polymer raw materials	Cyclic dimer monomer	L-Lactide	4511-42-6	S161079	≥98%	A cyclic dimer obtained from lactic acid via polycondensation and depolymerization; the direct monomer for synthesizing high-molecular-weight PLA.
Bio-based monomers and polymer raw materials	Bio-based polyester	Poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA	33135-50-1	P299052	Ester-terminated, inherent viscosity 2.6–3.2 dL/g	Produced by polymerization of L-lactide/lactic acid; the carbon source is mainly derived from fermented lactic acid, making it a representative biodegradable bio-based polyester.
Bio-based solvents	Furan-based green solvent	2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF)	96-47-9	M298963	Anhydrous grade, ≥99%, stabilizer-free	Can be obtained by hydrogenation of furfural and other biomass platform molecules; regarded as a bio-based alternative solvent to THF.
Bio-based solvents	Lactate solvent	Ethyl lactate	97-64-3	E108228	Standard for GC, ≥99% (GC)	Produced by esterification of fermented lactic acid with ethanol; fully derived from renewable carbon sources and a typical bio-based green solvent.
Bio-based solvents	Lactate solvent (high-boiling)	Butyl lactate	138-22-7	B111190	≥98%	Also derived from lactic acid and esterified with butanol; used in medium- to high-boiling-point solvent systems and as a coalescing agent.
Bio-based solvents	High-polarity green solvent	1,3-Dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI)	80-73-9	D131598	Anhydrous grade, ≥99.5% (GC), H₂O ≤0.04%	Can be synthesized from bio-based platform molecules; its low volatility and high polarity make it suitable for green polymerization and electrochemical applications.
Bio-based solvents	Bio-ethanol / basic solvent	Ethanol	64-17-5	E118433	Moligand™, ≥99.5%	Produced by fermentation using starch/sugar as carbon sources; one of the most traditional and largest-volume bio-based basic chemicals and solvents.
Bio-based solvents / plasticizers	Polyol solvent	Glycerol	56-81-5	G116208	Molecular biology grade, ≥99%	Obtained by hydrolysis of fatty-acid glycerides in vegetable oils or as a by-product of biodiesel; a triol platform molecule and commonly used solvent/plasticizer.
Bio-based surfactants	Fermentation-derived biosurfactant	Rhamnolipids	—	R488087	95% (mainly mono-rhamnolipids)	Produced by fermentation with Pseudomonas and other microorganisms using sugars and fatty acids from vegetable oils as carbon sources; exhibits excellent biodegradability.
Bio-based surfactants	APG plant-derived surfactant	Decyl glucoside (APG)	68515-73-1	T476404	Moligand™, 60% in H₂O	Produced by condensation of C8–C10 fatty alcohols from vegetable oils with glucose; carbon is fully derived from renewable vegetable oils and starch-based sugars.
Bio-based surfactants	APG plant-derived surfactant	Lauryl glucoside	110615-47-9	L196324	≥40%	Condensates of coconut/plant fatty alcohols and glucose; widely used in mild cleansing and personal care formulations.
Bio-derived functional molecules – vitamins	Antioxidant / nutritional fortifier	L-Ascorbic acid	50-81-7	A103535	Moligand™, ACS, ≥99%	Industrially produced from glucose via fermentation combined with chemical conversion; a typical “sugar-route” bio-derived functional compound.
Bio-derived functional molecules – amino acids	Basic amino acid salt	L-Lysine·HCl	657-27-2	L113005	Ultra pure grade, ≥99.5% (AT)	Produced by fermentation using corn starch, molasses and related substrates; a typical bulk fermentation amino acid that can serve as a bio-derived monomer and nutritional fortifier.
Bio-derived functional molecules – amino acids	Basic amino acid	L-Lysine	56-87-1	L103479	Moligand™, ≥98%	Free-base form obtained via fermentation; can be used in functional polymers, chelating agents and nutrition research.
Bio-derived functional molecules – amino acids	Dicarboxylic amino acid	L-Glutamic acid	56-86-0	G103978	≥99%	A dicarboxylic amino acid produced by fermentation; used as a reagent in neurotransmitter studies and as a potential polymer monomer or bio-derived additive.
Bio-derived functional molecules – amino acids	Neutral amino acid	L-Alanine	56-41-7	A108263	Moligand™, ≥99%	A neutral amino acid obtained via fermentation/enzymatic methods; applicable to buffer systems, chelating agents and functional material design.
Bio-derived functional molecules – amino acids	Sulfur-containing amino acid	L-Cysteine	52-90-4	C108237	Moligand™, ≥99%	Produced by fermentation or protein hydrolysis; contains a thiol group and can serve as a crosslinking site or reducing agent in biomaterials and polymer crosslinking.
Bio-based additives / plasticizers	Citrate plasticizer	Tributyl citrate (TBC)	77-94-1	T105179	≥98%	Prepared by esterifying citric acid (typically obtained via sugar fermentation) with n-butanol, it is a representative bio-based citrate plasticizer.

Market and Policy Environment: From Policy-Driven to Demand-Driven

1. Policy Context: An Important “Endorsement” for Bio-based Chemicals

In recent years, under the overarching frameworks of China’s “dual-carbon” goals and green manufacturing, a series of policy documents related to bio-based materials have been issued in rapid succession. Together, they provide clear top-level design for the development of bio-based chemicals.

1. Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030 (2021)

This plan explicitly states that by 2025, non-fossil energy will account for around 20% of primary energy consumption, and by 2030 about 25%, with a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP.

(1) Implication: Conventional petrochemical routes characterized by high energy consumption and high carbon emissions will face sustained pressure to decarbonize. Low-carbon, bio-based feedstocks will become one of the key substitution pathways.

2. 14th Five-Year Development Plan for the Raw Materials Industry (2021)

This plan lists “promoting the engineering-scale development of production technologies for bio-based materials across the entire value chain” as one of the priority directions for technological innovation, and emphasizes the need to drive technological breakthroughs and industrialization of key varieties such as bio-based materials and bio-medical materials.

(1) Implication: The focus is shifting from “whether to develop” to “how to scale up development”, placing explicit requirements on scale-up engineering and process optimization for bio-based chemicals.

3. Three-year Action Plan for Accelerating the Innovative Development of Non-grain Bio-based Materials (2023–2025)

This plan clearly proposes that by 2025, an industrial ecosystem for non-grain bio-based materials will be basically in place, featuring strong indigenous innovation capability, a continuously enriched product portfolio, and a green, circular, low-carbon profile. Priority support is given to fields such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyamides (PA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and polyurethanes (PU).

(1) Implications:

(a) It explicitly identifies non-grain biomass as a key direction for the future, helping to ease social concerns about “competing with food for resources”.

(b) It highlights key product groups such as PLA, PA, PHA/PBS, and PU, thereby providing clear demand pull for upstream bio-based monomers and chemicals.

Overall, national-level policy has evolved from principle-level support to deployment with concrete pathways and targets. Across the raw-material, technology, and application stages, bio-based chemicals are receiving sustained support at the policy level.

2. Industry Scale: Rapid Growth of Bio-based Materials with Bio-based Chemicals as a Key Component

Because most publicly available statistics use “bio-based materials” as the statistical boundary, bio-based chemicals are typically grouped together with bio-based plastics and fibers. Looking at the overall trend:

1. Studies indicate that in 2023, China’s bio-based materials market reached approximately RMB 42.961 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 22.5% from 2018 to 2023.

2. In the same year, the output of bio-based materials was about 2.742 million tons and demand was about 2.419 million tons, representing year-on-year increases of roughly 21% and 21.8%, respectively. Among these, bio-based plastics account for the largest share, followed by bio-based chemicals and bio-based fibers.

3. In 2023, the average price of bio-based materials was around RMB 17,800 per ton, which remains relatively high overall.

Within this broader bio-based materials landscape, bio-based chemicals play two roles:

1. As upstream platform molecules and monomers, they define the cost and performance boundaries of downstream bio-based plastics and fibers.

2. They also form direct application markets in solvents, surfactants, functional additives, and fine chemicals.

This means that even without considering terminal materials markets, bio-based chemicals themselves have already grown into a sizeable industry with substantial room for further expansion.

Advantages and Challenges: How to View the Opportunities and Risks of Bio-based Chemicals

The strong attention being paid to bio-based chemicals is certainly well-founded. However, if we look only at their advantages, it is easy to overlook real-world constraints. Below, we outline a relatively balanced view from both the advantages and challenges perspectives, to help researchers and companies make more rational choices when selecting technologies and products.

1. Key Advantages of Bio-based Chemicals

1. Renewable Feedstocks and Carbon Reduction Potential

Using biomass such as starch, cellulose, and vegetable oils as carbon sources gives products a natural carbon-cycle attribute over their life cycle and can lead to favorable results in carbon footprint accounting. For brands with strong carbon-neutrality commitments, this is a critical driver.

2. Strong Alignment with Policy Priorities

National-level policies—including the “dual-carbon” targets, raw materials industry plans, and action plans for non-grain bio-based materials—provide long-term development certainty and a high “policy priority” for bio-based pathways.

3. Differentiated Performance in Certain Product Categories

For example:

(a) PLA exhibits excellent transparency and biocompatibility in applications such as 3D printing and resorbable medical devices;

(b) Bio-based polyamides offer unique advantages in low-temperature toughness and impact resistance;

(c) Certain bio-based solvents outperform traditional solvents in toxicological and volatility profiles, enabling compliance with more stringent VOC and safety regulations.

4. Growing Brand and Market Recognition on the Consumer Side

In packaging, personal care, and food-contact materials, both brands and end consumers are becoming increasingly aware of “bio-based” and “renewable resources,” and are more willing to pay a premium for green attributes. This creates additional value space for upstream bio-based chemicals.

5. Expectation of Long-term Cost Reduction Driven by Technology

With advances in enzyme engineering, synthetic biology, and process intensification, as well as the commissioning of large-scale plants, the industry broadly expects the unit cost of bio-based chemicals to gradually decline, with economies of scale helping to relieve current cost pressures.

2. Unavoidable Practical Challenges

1. Persistent Cost Pressure

For most product categories, the combined costs of raw materials, fermentation/catalytic efficiency, and separation/purification are still generally higher than for comparable fossil-based products.

(a) For bulk chemicals, price sensitivity is very high, and a cost premium often becomes the main barrier to market adoption;

(b) In many processes, the cost of the carbon source accounts for a very large share of total cost, which is also a key focus area for R&D optimization.

2. Potential Competition with Food and Land Use

Early bio-based routes often relied on corn and food-grade sugars as raw materials, which easily fueled concerns about “competing with food.”

(a) This is one of the reasons national policy emphasizes “non-grain bio-based materials,” encouraging greater use of straw, forestry residues, and industrial by-products as feedstocks.

3. Uneven Levels of Process Maturity and Stability

Different products are at very different levels of technological readiness (TRL):

(a) A small number have already reached million-tonne-scale production with relatively stable profitability;

(b) Many newer products are still at pilot or demonstration scale, and may encounter engineering challenges during scale-up, such as heat removal, mass transfer, and strain stability.

4. Need for More Comprehensive Evaluation of Life-cycle Environmental Benefits

Bio-based does not automatically mean “inherently more environmentally friendly.” Life cycle assessment (LCA) is required to comprehensively consider:

(a) Carbon emissions and land-use impacts associated with feedstock cultivation/collection;

(b) Energy consumption and “three wastes” (waste gas, wastewater, solid waste) treatment during fermentation/reaction processes;

(c) Recycling and degradation routes during product use and at end-of-life.

(d) For researchers and enterprises, clarifying the actual environmental benefits through experimental data and model analysis will be an important area of work going forward.

5. Standards, Certification, and Market Awareness Still Need Improvement

Although relevant national standards and certain certification schemes are already in place, for typical users, information such as “bio-based content,” “degradation conditions,” and “environmental impact” remains rather abstract.

(a) This can directly influence end customers’ decision-making when selecting products;

(b) It also calls for upstream companies and reagent suppliers to provide clearer technical documentation and explanations.

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