Polylysine (PLL) has a broad antibacterial spectrum and has broad application prospects in the field of food processing.

Polylysine (PLL), also known as poly-L-lysine hydrogen bromide, is polymerized from 25 to 30 lysine residues. Its chemical formula is (C6H12N2O2)n.xHBr. It is an organic substance. Polylysine appears as a white freeze-dried powder and has the characteristics of strong water solubility, high safety performance, good thermal stability, and broad antibacterial spectrum. It is widely used as a bacteriostatic agent in the field of food processing.

Fermentation method is the main production method of polylysine, which has the advantages of green environmental protection, low production cost and high safety. The fermentation method usually uses corn starch as the main raw material, and produces sugar liquid through liquefaction and saccharification. Stable fermentation is ensured through temperature adjustment, control of dissolved oxygen, tank pressure, and the amount of base material added, and then filtered, desalted, desugared, and Polylysine is prepared through processes such as decolorization and drying. In recent years, with the rising enthusiasm for global research and development, polylysine fermentation technology has continued to innovate, further improving the quality and yield of finished products.

ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) is a polylysine derivative with good stability and broad antibacterial spectrum. ε-Polylysine can effectively inhibit yeast, Gram-positive bacteria and mold in acidic and slightly acidic environments. It is a natural preservative. Japan is the world’s largest producer of ε-polylysine and has achieved commercial development of ε-polylysine. Japanese CHISSO Company is the world’s leading company of ε-polylysine. my country’s ε-polylysine industry started late, with low market penetration, and there is huge room for development in the industry.

According to the “2023-2028 China Polylysine (PLL) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report span>》shows that the food processing field is the largest demand end for polylysine, including egg products, milk products, beverage processing, etc. Polylysine is made from natural raw materials and has the advantages of good safety, environmental protection, broad antibacterial spectrum, and can extend the shelf life of food. It is often used as a bacteriostatic agent in combination with other substances. Along with the rapid economic development, the continuous improvement of national living standards and the accelerated development of the food processing industry will bring broad market prospects for polylysine.

The number of polylysine production enterprises in my country is small, and the industry concentration is low. At present, the main players in my country’s polylysine market include Hubei Rishengchang New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou Beinaf Bioengineering Co., Ltd., etc.

Industry analysts said that driven by market demand, polylysine as a food bacteriostatic agent has broad prospects for industry development. As a polylysine derivative, ε-polylysine has a low market share, low application demand, and huge industry development potential. It is expected that in the future, with the technological innovation and continuous expansion of production capacity of local enterprises, the concentration of my country’s polylysine industry will increase.