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Adipic acid is a carboxylic acid COOH(CH2)4COOH manufactured in high volumes mostly for the production of nylon-6,6 fibers. It is also used in the production of polyurethanes, resins, plasticizers, adhesives, lubricants and in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic. It is used for the production of packaging, plastic films, bottles and fibres, and in medical applications. PLA is produced from the chiral compound Lactic Acid. It can be synthesised in three stereochemical forms: poly-Llactic acid (usually a semicrystalline polymer), poly-D-lactic acid (usually a highly crystalline polymer), and poly-DL-lactic acid (an amorphous polymer).

Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is a carboxylic acid with applications in both chemical and food industries. It is largely used as feedstock for the production of vinyl acetate (a monomer used in the manufacture of the polymer polyvinyl acetate) and other esters (commonly used in inks and paintings), and as a solvent in different chemical reactions and purification processes.

Succinic acid (COOH(CH2)2COOH) is a carboxylic acid used in food (as an acidulant), pharmaceutical (as an excipient), personal care (soaps) and chemical (pesticides, dyes and lacquers) industries. Bio-based succinic acid is seen as an important platform chemical for the production of biodegradable plastics and as a substitute of several chemicals (such as adipic acid).

Glycerol is a chemical compound with three hydroxyl groups. It is widely used in pharmaceutical, health care and food industries and it is a by-product of the biodiesel production. It can be produced through chemical syntheses from propylene. However, owing to the increased production of biodiesel, the bio-based pathway has become more important.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biobased, biodegradable and biocompatible polymers. Up to now there are 150 different monomer compositions known for PHAs (such as: polyhydroxybutyrate PHB and polyhydroxyvalerate PHV), resulting in a high variety of properties and applications. PHAs can replace currently used petrochemical polymers in coatings and packaging. Owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, PHAs can also be used for medical purposes.

1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) is a bifunctional organic compound with chemical formula OHCH2CH2CH2OH. 1,3- PDO is a building block chemical that can be used in the preparation of the bio-based polymer polytrimethylene and in the production of adhesives, paints, resins and coatings.