Polyurethanes production from renewable resources

Polyurethanes obtained from renewable resources, such as carbohydrates, have attracted much attention in recent years [110,111]. This new interest results from great biomass access and their potential as replacements for some petroleum-based polymer precursors. The polymers obtained from natural products are expected to be biodegradable and non-toxic. The inclusion of hydrophilic monomers, such as carbohydrates, into the polymer chain facilitates water attack, increasing the hydrolytic degradation. 

Other collaborations like this one have produced a Dow product called Wood-stalk, a formaldehyde-free polyurethane resin particleboard from a harvested wheat straw fiber, a renewable resource. Dow acknowledges the importance of stakeholder collaboration in their business strategy. Green building practices... 

Bio-based materials are receiving wide attention, in consequence innovative technologies and competitive industrial products are reducing the dependence on petrochemicals for the production of polymers. Increasing concerns about the environmental degradation caused by conventional polymers have directed worldwide research toward renewable resources. Natural polymers are one of the readily available alternatives for the synthesis path of polyurethanes. The functional groups present in this kind of polymer can be activated for condensation polymerizations, and polyurethane is produced by this route. The incorporation of moieties from natural polymers into the synthetic polymer chain allows tailoring of the properties of polyurethane products for widespread application. 

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