Lactic Acid

Market Dynamics:  Lactic acid is a hydroxycarboxylic acid commonly used as a flavoring, inhibitor of bacteria, and acidulant. Because much of the lactic acid is derived from milk and glucose, corn is a key starting material that can impact price and availability. Corn is impacted by the harvest in the US, which supplies 50% of the global supply of corn.

Up Stream Materials/Building Blocks: Lactic acid can be produced in several ways: fermentation of milk or whey, which is animal derived (not acceptable for biotech); fermentation of sucrose, glucose; and synthetic. 
​Milk/Beef

Corn

Dextrose

Sucrose

Beet/Sugar cane

Hydrogen cyanide 

Acetaldehyde

Hydrochloric acid

Ammonium chloride

Vinyl acetate

Glycerol

Down Stream Materials Consuming:

Tableting

Polyester (biodegradeable)

Food preservations/flavoring

Cosmetics