Trehalose is a stable, non-reducing disaccharide commonly found in various organisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, insects, and invertebrates. It serves not only as a storage carbohydrate but also plays a crucial role in stress metabolism. Unlike other sugars, trehalose is made up of two glucose molecules linked in a unique way that makes it highly stable. This stability allows it to form a protective layer around cells under extreme conditions like high heat, freezing temperatures, dehydration, and water loss. By preserving the structure of biomolecules, it helps maintain cellular function and biological integrity, making it valuable across multiple industries including pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and agriculture.
In the food and pharmaceutical sectors, trehalose acts as an effective protector of biofilms and large biomolecules, preventing damage from drying, freezing, or osmotic pressure changes. It also helps shield DNA from radiation-induced harm and can be used as a substitute for plasma proteins in stabilizing vaccines and biological products. In cosmetics, it provides excellent moisturizing properties, while in food, it functions as a low-calorie sweetener that can replace sucrose, especially beneficial for diabetics. Additionally, it reduces dental caries when used in children's confections like candies and chocolates.
Currently, large-scale production of trehalose is limited to a few companies worldwide, such as Japan’s Linyuan Chemical Company and China’s Nanning Connaught Sino Biological Engineering Co., Ltd. However, the Beijing Technology Exchange Center has successfully developed a small-scale production process using corn starch as a raw material and enzymatic methods to produce trehalose. The process features high fermentation efficiency and raw material conversion rates, significantly lowering production costs.
The global demand for trehalose is growing rapidly. It is estimated that the market will reach over 150,000 tons annually in the coming years. However, current global production capacity is only around 80,000 tons per year, creating a significant gap. Trehalose has been largely imported into China, particularly from Japan, leaving room for domestic enzymatic production to meet rising demand. With over 20 million newborns each year in China, and the need for 1 billion vaccines requiring trehalose as a stabilizer, this market alone could generate up to 80 million yuan in annual revenue.
In food preservation and agricultural applications, the demand for trehalose has already reached more than 2,500 tons in 2002, with projections of exceeding 100,000 tons by 2005. Its use in food preservation and cosmetics makes it a lucrative business opportunity. A plant producing 100 tons of trehalose annually would require about 3 million yuan in equipment investment, with raw material costs at approximately 7,000 yuan per ton. At a market price of 79,000 yuan per ton, the annual profit could reach 4.8 million yuan.
Author: Beijing Technology Exchange Promotion Center
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