Scalable fermentation-based production of nature-identical xylitol
zuChem, Inc has developed a precision fermentation process to produce nature-identical xylitol from renewable biomass, offering a sustainable and scalable alternative to traditional chemical methods. This innovation aims to improve yield and cost efficiency for food applications.
Overview
zuChem, Inc has pioneered a precision fermentation process to produce nature-identical xylitol, a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sweetener in foods and beverages. Unlike traditional methods that rely on energy-intensive chemical hydrogenation of xylose, this innovative approach utilizes renewable biomass sources, providing a scalable, consistent, and sustainable production pathway. This solution addresses industry needs for clean-label ingredients and aims to improve supply reliability and cost efficiency for food manufacturers.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes precision fermentation to convert renewable biomass into high-purity xylitol.
- Demonstrated feasibility at manufacturing scale using corn cobs as feedstock in China.
- Current focus on optimizing the process for North American feedstocks like bagasse, corn fiber, and soybean hulls.
- Process targets include achieving a titer greater than 100g/L xylitol with 85% recovery from xylose monomers.
- Plans for application testing in beverages, confectionery, and baked goods to benchmark against commercial xylitol.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 6, having been validated in pilot and bench fermentations and scaled to manufacturing levels overseas. The ongoing project aims to further optimize and scale the process using local feedstocks, with support sought for feedstock processing, pilot-scale fermentation, and commercial alignment.
About zuChem, Inc
zuChem, Inc. is a producer of unique sugars and carbohydrates for human health, nutrition, and pharmaceutical applications. The company utilizes a proprietary carbohydrate biotechnology platform that integrates advanced fermentation, metabolic engineering, and specialized enzyme technologies. By combining these bioprocess methods with traditional chemical techniques, zuChem develops scalable, industrial-quality manufacturing routes for food ingredients, specialty chemicals, and glycochemicals that are otherwise difficult, expensive, or impossible to produce using conventional methods.
These capabilities allow the company to address significant challenges in the food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries by providing sustainable and efficient alternatives to energy-intensive chemical production. The company's technology has enabled the commercial production of products such as xylitol from renewable biomass feedstocks. zuChem actively partners with other entities to commercialize its bio-based products and has a history of receiving federal research support, including SBIR awards from the National Institutes of Health, to advance its rare sugar and carbohydrate production technologies.
delivered to your inbox.