Sorona

File:Poly(trimethylene terephthalate).svg

Sorona is DuPont de Nemours, Inc.'s brand of Triexta, a subclass of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT){{Cite web |title=Triexta PTT Carpet Fiber |last=Simmons |first=Cheryl |work=The Spruce |date=8 August 2019 |url= https://www.thespruce.com/triexta-ptt-carpet-fiber-2908799 }} named and commercialized in 2000.http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27700019_ITM DuPont Sorona Selected As Brand Name For 3GT Polymer {{Dead link|date=February 2021|fix attempted=yes}} The fibers are soft and stain-resistant while exhibiting high strength and stiffness.{{Cite web |title=Renewably Sourced Automotive Materials |author= |website=Dupont Transportation & Industrial |date= |access-date=18 February 2021 |url= https://www.dupont.com/knowledge/renewably-sourced-interiors.html}}

Sorona is a co-polymer of 1,3-propanediol (obtained by fermentation) and petroleum-derived terephthalic acid (TPA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT). Related polymers in this series include polyethylene terephthalate (2GT) and polybutylene terephthalate (polytetramethylene terephthalate) (4GT).{{cite journal|title=The mechanical properties and structure of poly(m-methylene terephthalate) fibers | doi=10.1002/pol.1976.180140206 | volume=14| issue=2 |journal=Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition|pages=263–274|year = 1976|last1 = Ward|first1 = I. M.| last2=Wilding | first2=M. A. | last3=Brody | first3=H. | bibcode=1976JPoSB..14..263W }}

Sorona can theoretically be produced from about 37% renewable resources as DuPont won a 2003 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for their development of the fermentation process for the production of 1,3-propanediol from corn-derived glucose in recombinant Escherichia coli K-12.Manahan, S.E. Environmental Chemistry, CRC Press, 2005, p. 503.

The polymer Sorona has been mentioned by J. Craig Venter in interviews as an example of an application of industrial biotechnology. He was quoted as saying, "DuPont argues that Sorona is going to be the first billion-dollar biotech product other than a pharmaceutical".[https://web.archive.org/web/20071221071130/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/19/525944.aspx Decoding the DNA decoder - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com]