Advanced BioFuels USA

by Lorenz Bauer (Lee Consulting Enterprises/Biofuels Digest) …  Some of the more significant develops in the biopolymer and plastics development in the past year are included the table below.

The latest trend is the production of monomers that can directly replace fossil derived materials in “drop in” polymers. Totally renewable carbon polyethylenes and polyesters are starting to emerge on the market. The other significant area of advancement is the use of CO₂ as a feedstock for urethanes foams.    These materials make polymers identical to those made with the nonrenewable monomers. Thus they are compatible with existing formulations and infrastructure greatly reducing the barrier their market acceptance.

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The year began with an announcement from DuPont Industrial Biosciences and ADM that they have jointly developed a process for producing furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) from fructose. The polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (PTF) can be used with DuPont’s proprietary Bio-PDO (1,3-propanediol) to form a novel polyester that is suitable for manufacturing totally bio based beverage containers. Progress in using captured CO₂ to produce polymers continues with the announcement of a new product line by Covestro (Cardyon^TM) for inclusion into poly-urethanes. Corbion continues to aggressively market polylactic acid (PLA) as a neat bioplastic resin and has announced new materials made without the use of edible biomass.

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Many of the major players in the plastic and resin industry have sustainability goals that will require the use of more bio-based products.

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Plastics are a value added product when compared with fuel. Even with current oil prices, fossil carbon derived thermoplastics are selling at gasoline equivalent price of between $4-8 per gallon. Biopolymers are more attractive than unsubsidized biofuel production.   Polylatic acid (PLA), the current leader in the bioplastic market sales volumes, is 20-50% more expensive than competing materials.   The higher costs are a major impediment to adoption of bioplastics.   Several producers have recently stopped production or left

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Bioplastics are attractive because they are made from renewables and are perceived to have a lower environmental impact when they are disposed of properly. Many formulations decompose more rapidly than traditional polymer. The more rapid degradation decreases shelf life and may not translate into the desired reduction in the waste stream. Biopolymers in a waste stream can disrupt recycling efforts which in the short run is more efficient way of reducing carbonaceous waste.   Currently there is a debate over the standards and regulations that should be applied to give “green” certification. This controversy may delay adoption of the materials by some users.

The biodegradability of the biopolymers is a definite advantage in some biomedical applications.   Among the announcements in the table provided, are two by Merk and Evonik of reported their plans to market bio derived materials for implants and other medical use like scaffolds for tissue growth.

There are some applications where the biopolymers have significant advantages over other materials.   PLA polymers are particularly useful in 3D printing applications.    READ MORE