1,5-Pentanediamine: Biomanufacturing to Boost the Green Nylon Industry

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I. Product Definition and Key Characteristics: 1,5-Pentanediamine is a viscous, fuming liquid that is colorless to pale yellow at room temperature, and it has a strong ammonia-like odor as well as a putrid, fishy smell. With advances in synthetic biology and biofermentation technologies, it has been successfully transformed into a biobased platform compound of great strategic value; it serves as a monomer for biobased polyamides. 2. Application areas: The core value of 1,5-pentanediamine lies in its use as a polyamide monomer to undergo polycondensation with various dicarboxylic acids, thereby producing biobased nylon 5X series with different properties. PA56 (polymerized with adipic acid): Its overall properties lie between those of PA6 and PA66; it offers better moisture absorption, resilience, flame resistance, and dyeability compared to PA66 ； Its mechanical strength and wear resistance are similar to those of PA66. It is widely used in fields such as consumer fibers, engineering plastics, industrial threads, carpets, and clothing. PA510 (polymerized with sebacic acid): A representative of long-chain nylons, used in high-end filaments, industrial brush bristles, oil and gas pipelines, automotive components, and electronics. Other PA5X series include PA54, which is polymerized with succinic acid (offering high rigidity and high heat resistance), as well as PA5T, which is copolymerized with terephthalic acid (improving heat resistance and modulus), among others, to meet specific performance requirements. Emerging application – Transparent nylon: By copolymerizing it with dicarboxylic acids containing benzene rings and dicarboxylic acids with long carbon chains, bio-based transparent nylon can be produced, which possesses excellent transparency, solvent resistance, resistance to bending fatigue, and heat resistance. It is suitable for use in smartwatches, VR headsets, plastic eye frames, medical goggles, and other applications. III. Production Process and Technical Sources 3.1 Evolution of Technical Approaches Chemical synthesis methods (including the hydrogenation reduction of glutaronic nitrile and the chemical decarboxylation of L-lysine, etc.) have largely been phased out of large-scale production due to their reliance on petroleum resources, high toxicity and environmental pollution, as well as complex production processes. The biosynthetic method eliminates reliance on petroleum entirely; it uses renewable biomass such as corn and straw as raw materials, and carries out the conversion through microbial fermentation or enzyme catalysis. This represents the current research direction for the global glutaramine industry. 3.2 Main technical approaches: Two-step method (lysine fermentation + decarboxylation conversion): This is the most mature process currently available. First, L-lysine is produced through fermentation using genetically engineered bacteria, and then it is converted into glutaramic acid catalyzed by lysine decarboxylase. One-step method (direct fermentation method): This is an advanced version of the biological process; it skips the step of lysine separation and purification, allowing carbon sources such as glucose to be directly converted into glutaramic acid through fermentation using genetically engineered bacteria. This results in a shorter process with lower energy consumption. Kaisai Biotechnology: By utilizing a globally pioneering process for the direct conversion of glucose into glutaramine, Kaisai Biotechnology has established a closed-loop industrial chain that spans from biomass raw materials to end products. Its Wusu facility has an eglycine production capacity of 50,000 tons per year, supported by a production line in Taiyuan that generates 123,000 tons per year of bio-based polyamides, with a product purity of over 99.9%. 3.3 Latest Technological Breakthroughs: In February 2026, a team led by Professor Liu Liming from Jiangnan University published a groundbreaking study in which, through an innovative biomanufacturing strategy, they achieved the highest record in the world for the biosynthesis of 1,5-pentanediamine – 130 grams per liter. This technical approach belongs to the direct fermentation method; it skips the purification step in the traditional two-step process and produces the target product in just one step. IV. Major Manufacturers and Production Capacities 4.1 Domestic Leaders Kaisai Bio: The pioneer in the industrial production of bio-based glutaramic acid on a global scale; it uses a one-step fermentation process using glucose. Its glutaramic acid production capacity at the Wusu facility is 50,000 tons per year, with an additional 123,000 tons per year of bio-based polyamides produced in Taiyuan. The Taiyuan facility is planned to produce 500,000 tons per year of glutaramic acid and the associated polyamide products. Ningxia Yipin Biology: It employs a two-step conversion method and builds on its advantages in lysine production; Daqing has an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of glutaramine. Its EYLON Ilon® (bio-based nylon 56 fiber) has received the USDA Bio-Based Product Labeling certification, with a bio-based carbon content of 48%. 4.2 International Companies: In January 2022, the Japanese company Toray developed the first 100% bio-based nylon fiber, which was produced by polymerizing sebacic acid derived from castor oil and 1,5-pentanediamine derived from corn. International chemical giants such as BASF, Evonik, and AkzoNobel are all engaged in related research and development or small-scale production, but their scale of industrialization and cost control fall short compared to Qiaoxi Biology. V. Industry Trends Cost competitiveness: The raw material costs (food-based sugars) and fermentation/separation costs for bio-based pentamethylenediamine still need to be further reduced. Diversification of raw materials: To avoid competition for food resources, developing second-generation bio-refining technologies that use lignocellulose (such as straw and corn cobs) as raw materials is key to the sustainable development of this industry. Performance recognition and standards: As a new type of material, bio-based polyamides require the establishment of comprehensive processing standards and suitable manufacturing processes for downstream applications such as spinning, injection molding, and modification. Technological upgrade: The method of one-step fermentation of xylose in corn cob hydrolysate to produce 1,5-pentanediamine provides a technological foundation for the utilization of non-grain raw materials. Upgrading of products: The development of high-end varieties such as bio-based transparent nylon will enable the PA5X series to enter high-end applications in new energy vehicles, electronics, and other fields. Bio-based transparent nylon using glutarimide as a monomer has entered the stage of industrial research. Market expansion: With the continuous advancement of dual-carbon policies and the upgrading of brands’ green procurement practices, the market space for bio-based nylon to replace traditional petroleum-based nylon is continuing to grow