Industrialization of bioplastics manufacturers speeds up research and development
2021-05-02
Although the use of bioplastics in the world still accounts for only 1% of the 230 million tons of plastics consumption, new bioplastics based on renewable chemicals will quickly become popular. Some biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and starch-based compounds are gaining more applications in consumer packaging and food service industries. Analysts pointed out that the demand for bio-based plastic products for daily consumer goods is increasing. These new demands are prompting manufacturers to develop processes for producing existing plastics or some new materials from renewable raw materials.
Some renewable chemical companies have targeted the global polymer market of up to $1.3 trillion (about 933 billion euros). The main raw materials for their production are succinic acid, acrylic acid, levulinic acid, sorbitol, ethylene, ethylene glycol, and butadiene. Diols, adipic acid, furans, propylene glycol, glycerol, etc.
Brazilian Braskem Company has already put into operation its new 200,000-ton/year green polyethylene (PE) plant based on sugarcane ethanol in the Tirvonfoss Petrochemical Complex in Brazil at the end of September. The company said it plans to build another green PE device. More than 80% of the production capacity of the new plant has been supplied to customers in Europe, the United States and Asia, including Procter & Gamble Co., Ltd. and Johnson & Johnson, Japan Shiseido Co., Ltd. and Toyota, and Swiss Packaging Group Tetra Pak. Among them, Procter & Gamble will use green PE packaging in some of its hair care products and cosmetics in 2011. Analysts pointed out that Braskem's green PE is only the first step. If the oil price stabilizes at around US$ 90/bbl, all bio-plastic production technologies have the potential for industrialization.
Biosuccinic acid producers Myriant, DNP Green Technologies and DSM are all entering the potential market for renewable and low cost polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polyurethane (PU). According to the statistics of DNP Greentech, the demand for PBS produced by the global petrochemical route is about 3,000 tons/year. If the current succinic acid monomer is replaced by bio-based products, the demand for PBS is expected to increase to 50,000 tons. /year. DNP Green Technologies has promoted PBS products in the market. Its bio-based succinic acid content exceeds 51%. Applications for modified PBS include coffee caps, cups, plates, plastic dishes, drinking straws, stirring rods, and disposable razors. , writing instruments and cosmetics packaging.
DSM, a Dutch-based specialty chemicals company, has planned to set up Reverdia, a 50%-owned joint venture with French producer of starch derivatives, Roquette, to produce biological PBS derivatives from bio-based succinic acid. DSM has sold bio-based engineering plastics under the EcoPaXX brand, which contains 70% of castor oil-based bio-based materials. It is expected that EcoPaXX products will become 100% renewable products within 5 years; and bio-composite resin, Palapreg ECO, will be sold. It contains 55% renewable material. At the same time, DSM is producing acetone-based polymers through the US company Segetis, and jointly developed carbon dioxide-based aliphatic polycarbonate resins with Novomer of the United States.
The demand for lower-cost petroleum-based plastic substitutes has become the key to the development of renewable raw materials. Many recyclable chemical companies pointed out at the East-based Bio-based Chemicals Summit in Boston, Massachusetts, in September that in order to survive in the market, renewable chemicals, especially plastics, must be lower in cost than conventional plastics. The European Bioplastics Association stated that conventional petroleum-based plastics are still relatively cheap, but bioplastics will be used in more industries in the next few years. In the areas of consumer electronics and automotive, bioplastics have great potential for application. If certain bottlenecks can be overcome, the price of bioplastic products will be comparable to that of conventional plastics.
Downstream users of durable plastics are waiting for the industrialization of these new renewable base plastics. After years of development, the cost of biodegradable plastics industry is constantly decreasing. The production of Ingeo resin by the United States PLA manufacturer, NatureWorks, has reached a certain scale, and the cost and performance are comparable to those of petroleum-based plastics.
Petroleum Resin (Hydrocarbon resin) is a kind of thermal plasticizing hydrocarbon resin produced by C5, C9 fraction.It is not a high polymer but a low polymer with the molecular weight between 300-3000. Featured by acid value, easy mutual solubilities, resistant to water, resistant to ethanol and chemicals.
Generally, the petroleum resins are not used independently, but have to be used together with other kinds of resins as promoters, adjusting agents and modifiers in hot-melt adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, hot melt road marking paint, rubber tires and so on.
Petroleum Resin, Aliphatic Petroleum Resin, Petroleum Resin Adhesive, Petroleum Resin Paint Coating
Eva Resin,Hydrogenated Hydrocarbon Resin Co., Ltd. http://www.hnironoxide.com