100% bio-based nylon 66: New manufacturing technology by Toray
Last update on May 29, 2026
Reducing dependence on fossil resources while maintaining stable raw material supply remains a key challenge for companies working with nylon 66. Toray Industries, Inc. and PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) have established a series of manufacturing technologies for producing bio-based adipic acid through the fermentation of bio-muconic acid derived from starch residues, alongside 100% bio-based nylon 66 using the resulting material.
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Using biomass raw materials that do not compete with food
The process uses cassava pulp, a residue generated during starch production from cassava grown for food applications. According to the companies, this approach enables the use of renewable biomass resources that do not compete directly with food supply chains. Because cassava pulp is an unused residue stream that can be stably supplied, the companies indicate that its use may help reduce the risk of indirect land use change (ILUC) associated with new farmland expansion.
The following is an overview of the demonstration tests conducted by the two companies along a series of manufacturing processes in establishing this technology.
| Engineering | Body | Implementation details and points |
|---|---|---|
| Saccharification | Toray | Toray demonstrated the production of 5 dry-tons of glucose sugar per day using 66 tons of cassava pulp with approximately 85% moisture content. Energy-saving and high-quality saccharification technology using separation membranes. |
| Fermentation | GC | GC validated the fermentation stage using its proprietary strain technology. According to the company, the process enabled stable and efficient production of bio-muconic acid fermentation broth from sugars produced during saccharification. The technology was reportedly validated from laboratory scale through a pilot-scale fermenter of approximately 50 m³. |
| Refinement | Collaboration between the two companies | High-purity bio-muconic acid is refined from the fermentation broth using the unique technology developed by both companies. The high quality of refined bio-muconic acid can be converted to bio-based adipic acid. |
| Chemical Conversion | Toray | Bio-based adipic acid is produced from bio-muconic acid. Ensuring the high purity quality required for nylon 66 polymerization. |
| Polymerization and fibrosis | Toray | Successful polymerization and fiber processing of nylon 66 on a lab scale using bio-based adipic acid and bio-based hexamethylenediamine (HMDA). |
Focus on scaling up production and reducing costs
Going forward, the companies stated that efforts will focus on scaling up production and reducing costs for bio-muconic acid and bio-based adipic acid. Toray also indicated that it aims to build a supply chain toward the commercialization of textile products using 100% bio-based nylon 66 by FY2028. Toray and GC will continue to work closely together to actively work towards the realization of a recycling-oriented society through the development and dissemination of materials derived from biomass resources.
This content is the result obtained by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) "FY2023 Supplementary Budget Project for Future-Oriented Co-Creation in the Global South".
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