Welcome to LETZero Encyclopedia, an introductory series to LG Chem’s eco-friendly brand LETZero and their products. Last time, we focused on the company’s sustainable compostable material solution, COMPOSTFUL™. Today, we look into the features and usages of 3HP.

The core component of compostable plastics, 3HP

Compostable plastics break down into water and carbon dioxide by microorganism and degradative enzymes under certain conditions. The most common types of compostable plastics are PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) made from corn and starch, PBAT (Poly-Butylene Adipate Terephthalate) that quickly decomposes through thermal behaviors, and PLH (PolyLactate-co-Hydracrylate). Among these, PLH is a material obtained from lactic acid and 3HP (3-Hydroxypropionic Acid). Today, our focus will be on 3HP, the main component of PLH.

3HP, just like lactic acid, is a molecule composed of 6 hydrogen atoms, 3 carbon atoms, and 3 oxygen atoms. Depending on the position of Hydroxy Group, an atomic group* formed of 1 hydrogen and 1 oxygen atoms, it may become lactic acid or 3HP. In short, 3HP and lactic acid consist of the same atoms but different molecular structures.

3HP is a bio material based on vegetable raw materials. It is produced when vegetable raw materials, such as corn-based glucose and crude glycerol, break down during fermentation processing which involves microorganisms. Similar to the Hydroxy Group mentioned above, 3HP has a structure that often causes chemical reactions, and it can convert into various forms. Thanks to this characteristic, 3HP is also called ‘Platform Chemical,’ a term given to multipurpose chemical substances, and has broad applications.

*atomic group: a chemically and functionally distinct unit that consists of multiple atoms

3HP, with its extensive usage and eco-friendly feature, is gaining global attention. According to research reports, the global 3HP market is prospected to grow by around 9% every year, reaching 1.3 billion dollars by 2030. This owes to its contribution to ESG, using microorganisms in the production, plus a wide range of applications.

Yet, 3HP has not been commercialized in the global market due to its limitation in mass-production. To shoot this problem, LG Chem, who holds the original technology of 3HP fermentation, signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with GS Caltex, who has the separate purification processing and scale-up technology, for a joint 3HP business. So far, there has been attempts to develop the 3HP technology, but no successful case of commercialization. Followed by the construction of 3HP demo plant in Yeosu site in Korea, LG Chem will proceed to develop 3HP prototypes. If these prototypes can be applied to the market, they will not only guarantee 3HP commercialization, but also positive impacts on carbon neutrality and resource circulation.

Application of 3HP

As mentioned before, 3HP is used as the raw material for various materials, in various forms. In particular, it is applied to PLH (a compostable plastic), films, disposable cups, and air caps that serve as buffers. Plastic made from 3HP is high in biodegradability and flexibility, making itself suitable for diverse disposable products.

Furthermore, 3HP makes the raw material for SAP (Superabsorbent Polymer) in diapers and sanitary pads, acrylic acid that creates paints and glues∙adhesives, and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) for interior and automotive materials.