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Sodium gluconate (SG), the sodium salt of gluconic acid, is used in concrete additive, water quality steadying agent, food and electroplating detergent industries in China. Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) is a harmless food additive to the human body. During the past two years, these two industries have seen increasing output and consumption in China.
- Sodium gluconate
As of Dec. 2021, there were five manufacturers with sodium gluconate capacity exceeding 100,000 t/a, including Shandong Fuyang, Zhucheng Xingmao, Baisheng Biotechnology, Xiwang Sugar and the newcomer Yuxing Biotechnology. In 2017-2021, the output of sodium gluconate in China grew at a CAGR of 2.0%, reaching 701,400 tonnes in 2021. The output of the top five SG producers in 2021 accounted for 82.98% of total SG output in China, which was 5.44% lower than that of 2020.
In 2021, the full-year ex-works price of sodium gluconate was above USD660/t as USD/CNY continued to weaken. The price surpassed USD700/t in Q4 and reached USD779/t in Nov. as the price of corn starch rose.
As to SG production technology, the enzyme method has become the mainstream technology thanks to no fungal residue and less energy consumption.
- Glucono-delta-lactone
As of Dec. 2021, there were seven active GDL producers in China. The capacity of the top three producers accounted for 60.66% of the national total. Thanks to increasing demand abroad and profitable sales, the output of GDL in China grew at a CAGR of 2.34% from 2017 to 2021, reaching 34,000 t/a in 2021. From 2018 to 2021, China's GDL operating rate remains between 55%-60% (except for 2020).
In 2021, annual average ex-works price of GDL reached USD1,687/t, rising 19.22% year on year.
There are four methods for GDL production, namely fermentation method, catalytic oxidation method, glucose oxidase method and electrolytic oxidation method, with glucose or starch as starting material.