Published February 1999
L-Lysine [2,6-diamino-hexanoic acid; NH2(CH2)4CH(NH2)] is an essential amino acid produced by fermentation. Between 1991 and 1997, the global market for L-lysine experienced explosive growth from 100 million to 750 million lb/yr primarily as a result of increased use as a feed additive in swine and poultry production. Although growth has leveled off, it is still projected to continue to increase at ~7%/yr.
Midwest Lysine LLC, a joint venture of Cargill and Degussa, recently announced the construction of a 160 million lb/yr facility at Cargill's corn-milling site in Blair, Nebraska to produce of a new form of L-lysine called BIQLYS60, Start-up is scheduled for late 1999.
With its new plant, Midwest Lysine will join the four firms Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Ajinomoto, Kyowa-Hakko, and Daesang that now account for nearly 90% of the world's capacity of L-lysine and that have announced capacity increases totaling 300 million lb/yr.
BIOLYS60, the sulfate salt of lysine along with fermentation by-products, is 46.8 wt% L-lysine (as the free amino acid). Other producers sell lysine as 98.5 wt% lysine monohydrochioride (L-lysine.HCL) or 78.8% L-lysine. BIOLYS60, which contains 60% of the lysine contained in the traditional product, can be substituted for the traditional L-lysine.HCL as a feed additive with comparable performance.
From our economic and technical examination, we conclude that BIOLYS60's cost position as a livestock feed additive, at the stated capacity, is superior to that for the traditional L-lysine. HCL product [see PEP Review 97-9 Lysine by Fermentation with Recovery by Ion Exchange (March 1999)], for an evaluation of that product). Moreover, the BIOLYS60 process is less complex and generates less waste.
