DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, a joint venture between DuPont and Tate & Lyle, will expand its world-class manufacturing facility in Loudon, Tennessee. The company will increase annual production of bio-based 1,3-propanediol by 35 million pounds.

Formed in 2004, DuPont Tate & Lyle utilizes a proprietary process that uses plant-based feedstocks to produce bio-based 1,3-propanediol. Today, the joint venture provides solutions for a wide variety of markets and applications through its bio-based performance brands in addition to Bio-PDO, the key ingredient for DuPont Sorona high-performance polymers.

Sorona is a polymer that brings unique performance-based benefits to fibers used in apparel and carpet markets. Engineering and construction is scheduled to start immediately and the expansion will to providing customers higher-performing ingredients from a petroleum-free, more sustainable and renewable source.

“Our continued growth is a testament to our ability to meet the performance requirements of demanding applications with our plant-based ingredients,” explained Todd Sutton, President, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products. “The versatility of the product has powered the Sorona fiber business growth as well as fueled the expansion for Zemea and Susterra propanediol.”

Zemea propanediol is a multifunctional, preservative-boosting humectant and ingredient that delivers high performance in a variety of consumer applications from personal care, flavors and pharmaceuticals to laundry and household cleaning. Susterra propanediol is the building block that delivers high performance in polyurethanes, fluids and other industrial applications.

“ The benefits of creating high-performing solutions in combination with renewability provides opportunities for us to continue to expand our market reach in the cosmetics, personal care, flavors, fibers and polyurethanes markets as well as many other applications,” he added.