Låkril Technologies turns lactic acid into bio-based acrylic acid. This can be used as a drop-in replacement for petroleum-derived acrylic acid, at cost parity. But how do you take the promising chemistry from a process model to a plant you can actually cost, de-risk and build? That’s where TransitionHERO comes in.
Acrylic acid is everywhere, it is the backbone of paints, coatings, adhesives and the superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) used in everyday products. Today almost all of it is made from petroleum. Låkril Technologies set out to change that with a proprietary reactor platform that converts bio-based lactic acid into acrylic acid that drops straight into existing supply chains. The result is a more sustainable, feedstock-secure route into a market worth roughly $12 billion.
Great chemistry is only the start, though. To raise investment and plan a first commercial plant, a startup needs more than a lab result. It needs a credible process design: a clear picture of how the plant is laid out, what it will cost to build, and what it will cost to run. As our missions align, TransitionHERO was excited to help Låkril take that step.
The project at a glance
Client: Låkril Technologies
Sector: Bio-based chemicals
Product: Bio-based acrylic acid, made from lactic acid as a drop-in petroleum replacement
Plant capacity: 40,000 metric tonnes per year
TransitionHERO scope: FEL1 process design package + plant OPEX & CAPEX estimation + 3D virtual plant walkthrough
Market: ~$12 billion acrylic acid market: coatings, adhesives and superabsorbent polymers
Next milestones: First customer samples in Q1 2026; scaling to Pre-FEED phase in 2026
From an ASPEN model to a buildable process design
Process design is the engineering work that translates a chemical process into a plant that can be costed, built and operated. It is where a reaction that works in simulation becomes equipment, flows, layouts and numbers.
Together with Låkril, we completed the Front-End Loading Phase 1 (FEL1) process design package for their 40,000 metric tonnes/year bio-based acrylic acid plant. FEL1 is the early-stage design phase that turns a concept into a structured, costed basis for decision-making, long before the expense of detailed engineering. Done well, it surfaces the capital and operating cost drivers early, so a team can make smart choices about where to invest next.
We advanced Låkril’s initial ASPEN process model into a fully laid-out process design, and built a 3D virtual walkthrough of the plant, because good decisions start with clear visualisation. The digital model lets the team see the plant, pressure-test the layout and align around one shared picture of the design.
What TransitionHERO delivered
Our scope for Låkril’s FEL1 phase covered:
A complete FEL1 process design package for the 40,000 t/year bio-acrylic acid plant
Development of the initial ASPEN process model into a fully laid-out plant design
Identification of the main capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) cost drivers
A 3D virtual walkthrough of the plant for visualisation and de-risking
Input that helped prioritise ongoing R&D ahead of the Pre-FEED phase in 2026
For more information about Låkril Technologies, visit lakril.com.
Why it matters
For Låkril, the FEL1 process design package means less risk, clearer costs and a solid foundation for scaling up. It connects the chemistry to the economics, and economics is what ultimately drives commercialisation.
“Advancing from our initial ASPEN process model to this fully laid out FEL1 process design package is a major milestone, helping to identify capital and operational cost drivers. We enjoyed the collaboration with our greentech engineering partners at TransitionHERO, which further identified and helped us prioritise ongoing R&D to prepare for scaling our process to Pre-FEED phase in 2026.”
— Chris Nicholas, Chief Technology Officer, Låkril Technologies
The momentum continues into 2026: beginning in Q1 2026, Låkril will start sending samples to prioritised customers. This is a significant step toward commercialising their bio-acrylic acid process. As bio-based acrylic acid moves toward becoming the sustainable standard across coatings, adhesives and superabsorbent polymers, projects like this show how quickly a strong process design can move green technology from the lab toward industry.
This is what we do at TransitionHERO: we turn greentech ideas into scalable, industry-ready processes, and we do it fast. Explore our scale-up services, or check out our other projects.
Get in touch!
Want to know more about this project, or ready to scale up your own green technology? Contact us here. Let’s build a greener future, together.
Frequently asked questions
What is process design in chemical engineering? Process design is the engineering work that turns a chemical process into a plant that can be built, costed and operated. It defines how the process is laid out and configured, and estimates what the plant will cost to build and run. We also identify key design choices to be made and investigate the options and concider the best fit for both sustainibility and business feasibility.
What is a FEL1 process design package? FEL1 (Front-End Loading Phase 1) is an early-stage process design phase. It develops a concept into a structured, costed design basis and identifies the main capital and operational cost drivers, so a project team can make informed decisions before committing to detailed engineering.
What does Låkril Technologies make? Låkril Technologies develops catalysts and process technology that convert bio-based lactic acid into acrylic acid. The result is a drop-in replacement for petroleum-derived acrylic acid, aimed at cost parity with the fossil-based product.
What is bio-based acrylic acid used for? Acrylic acid is a key building block for coatings, paints, adhesives and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). Bio-based acrylic acid offers a more sustainable route into this roughly $12 billion market.
What did TransitionHERO do for Låkril? TransitionHERO completed the FEL1 process design package for Låkril’s 40,000 tonnes/year bio-based acrylic acid plant, advanced their ASPEN model into a fully laid-out design, identified capital and operational cost drivers, and built a 3D virtual walkthrough of the plant.