Bio-based polyethylene

S. K. Samal, E.G. Fernandes, A. Crati, E. Chiellini. Bio-based Polyethylene-Lignin Composites Containing a Pro-oxidant/Pro-degiadant Additive Preparation and Characterization , J. Polym. Environ., 22, 58-68 (2014)... 

In Brazil, for similar reasons, the Dow Chemical Company and Mitsui Co Ltd are engaging in a 50/50 joint venture to cultivate sugarcane for the production of ethanol and subsequently ethylene. Initially a 350 000 tons ethanol production unit is planned, eventually leading to polyethylene production by 2015. This will take about 120 000 hectares of sugar cane aimed at providing a cheaper and less economically volatile ethanol feedstock (see http //www.biofuelsdigest.eom/bdigest/2012/03/22/dow-mitsui-to-finalize-brazilian-bio-based-polyethylene-jv/, accessed 8 July 2013). 

More recently, some other monomers have been studied. The attraction of production of well-known materials from renewable feedstock led to studies of the use of ethanol for the production of bio-based polyethylene (PE), of caprolactam and muconic acid for the production of polyamides (PA) and of isobutylene for the synthesis of polyisobutylene. 

Ethanol is one of the oldest biotechnological products used by humans, even ancient Egyptians were drinking a sort of beer obtained by aleoholic fermentation. More reeently ethanol was involved in first- and then second-generation biofuels. The overall sustainability and economie viability of these approaches remain doubtful. However, the production of bio-ethanol in important amounts led to its eonsideration for bio-based plastics production. Thus, the dehydration of ethanol was extensively studied and improved to produce ethylene, while the further polymerization to polyethylene (PE) and utilization are well known in the plastic industty. Furthermore, bio-ethanol was also used for the production of partially bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ... 

BrazUimi company, Brasfcem produces first bio-based polyethylene derived... 

Ibach RE, Clemons CM. Biological resistance of polyethylene composites made with chemically modified fiber or flour. Proceedings of the 6th Pacific Rim Bio-based Composites Symposium and Workshop on the Chemical Modification of Cellulosics 2002 Nov 10-13 Portland, OR. Portland (OR) Oregon State University 2002. p 574. 

Though the overall impact result of the hemp/epoxy composite was lower than the impact of the glass/epoxy composite, the impact associated with the matrix was very high. There are two ways to reduce the impacts associated with the matrix one is using bio-based matrix, the other is using a recycled matrix. Many studies involve the use of bio-based epoxy resin in thermoset composites, while recycled polypropylene and recycled polyethylene have been studied in new thermoplastic formulations. 

Pol5mnyl Plastics Acrylonitrile Polyethylene Polyethylene Bio-based... 

Besides bio-based ethylene additional bio-based alpha-olefin co-monomers will be required in order to tailor the various polyethylene grades to a required performance. It will require bio-based ethylene to be di-, tri- or tetramerized to form 1-butene, 1-hexene or 1-octene [43 7]. 

Basic stoichiometry teaches that for every 100 kg of polyolefin (polyethylene, PE polypropylene, PP) manufactured, a net 314 kg of CO2 is released into the environment at its end of life (100 kg of PE contains 85.7 kg carbon and upon combustion will yield (44/12) x 85.7 = 314 kg of CO2). Similarly, PET contains 62.5% carbon, which results in 229 kg of CO2 released into the environment at end of life. However, if the carbon in the polyester or polyolefin comes from biomass feedstock, the net release of CO2 into the environment is zero, because the CO2 released is sequestered in a short time period by the next crop or biomass plantation (Eigure 14.2). Thus, the fundamental value proposition for bio-based plastics arises from this intrinsic zero material carbon footprint and not necessarily from the process carbon footprint, which may be equal to or slightly better than current processes. 

Another example is the switch by The Coca-Cola Company to bio-PET with is characterized by a 20% bio-based carbon content (http //www.coca-colacompany.com/ our-company/introducing-plantbottle, accessed 10 July 2013). Polyethylene terephthalate bottles are extensively used for packaging beverages, water, and a number of other food and nonfood items (Figure 14.4). Polyethylene terephthalate is manufactured by condensation... 

Generally speaking, bio-based plastics include starch-based plastics, protein (soybean protein) based plastics, and cellulose-blended plastics. They can also be blended with conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly(vinyl alcohol). However, such bio-based plastics are only partially biodegradable. The residual petroleum-based plastics remain as broken pieces, creating additional pollution. In addition, these plastics have intrinsic thermal and mechanical weaknesses, and they are now discouraged for applications. 

Abstract Succimc add is an important platform chemical derived from petrochemical or bio-based feedstocks and can be transformed into a wide range of chemicals and polymers. Increasing demand for biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) will open up a new market for succinic acid. In this chapter, the synthesis of succinic acid is briefly reviewed. We focus on the polymerization, crystalline structure, thermal and mechanical properties, and biodegradability of PBS and its copolymers. PBS shows balanced mechanical properties similar to those of polyethylene and excellent performance during thermal processing. In addition, PBS and its copolymers can biodegrade in various enviromnents, such as soil burial, river, sea, activated... 

A number of papers studied polyethylenes in PLA as deliberately phase-separated areas to provide better toughness [24], But without compatibility with the PLA, these are likely to be sources of weakness rather than strength. Hence, there is a trend to use block copolymer compatibiUzers such as PLA/PE. As long as the PE is at a low level [25], although if the PE is above 1% the polymer cannot claim to be to composting standards, merely that it is bio-based. ... 

Currently, biodegradable plastics are considered to be eco-friendly because they can be broken down by the action of microorganisms in the environment. However, from the viewpoints of raw materials and energy sources, bio-based polymers have been produced from plant biomass. Unfortunately, at this point, bio-based polymers produced from edible sources such as com and sugar can generate new social problems. Furthermore, since bio-polyethylene has already been produced from bioethanol, some bio-based materials are not biodegradable plastics. 

Yanlong Gu et al. [109] summarized recent results of a multicomponent reaction obtained in nonconventional media including water, ILs, polyethylene glycol, and bio-based solvents. Wang et al. [110] have recently reported a three-component reaction in IL (Scheme 7.8). 

Bos, H., Meesters, K., Conijn, S., Corre, W., and Patel, M. (2012) Accounting for the constrained availability of land a comparison of bio-based ethanol, polyethylene, and PLA with regard to non-renewable energy use and land use. Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining, 6(2) 146-158. 

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