Aspartic acid?

Question

What are the uses for this material?

How much does it cost for a standard barrel (40 gallons US if memory serves)?

I was reading about a specialty chemical company that was going to build a facility to make this chemical from biomass, as opposed to buying it from a petroleum refiner.

Is this a good idea?

Answer 1

It is used as a human diet supplement and animal feed additive. The biggest single use is reacted with L-phenylalanine to make aspartame, the artificial sweetener.

Aldrich sells L-aspartic acidat $58/kg. Oil is sold in 42-gal bbl.