The development of bio-derived, renewably sourced chemicals presents an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of the plastics and coatings industry and build new polymer systems and applications. Applications of bio-derived feedstocks include monomers for a wide variety of polymer systems and additives such as plasticzers and lubricants. The technologies and molecules that fit these applications can be broken down into two categories. The first is direct replacement chemicals such propylene glycol, which have existing markets today, and the second is new bioadvantaged chemicals which bring unique beneficial properties but do not have existing markets. Of these two options, bio-advantaged molecules present the biggest challenge, but have the potential to introduce game-changing platforms for the future. Most large scale bio-based chemical announcements focus on producing direct replacements for petroleum-based chemicals.  If economical conversion technology is developed, markets already exist for these products.  Each approach has different risk/reward potential and project resource requirements.  A balanced portfolio based on resource utilization, including planning for co-products, will be required in any initiative.  Here we present a number of bioderived development opportunities including new monomers for polyesters, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, and epoxies and additives ranging from plasticizers to lubricants.

Renewable additives and feedstocks for the polymer industry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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