Sustainable Feedstocks

Long-lasting synthetic oils. Conventional oils are not long-lasting, which generates waste oil. Frequently disposing of large quantities of oil is hazardous to human health and the environment due to its composition of lead, nickel, and other heavy metals. AMSOIL's long-lasting oil extends its lifespan to 11 times longer than conventional oils; pairing this oil with an oil analysis program can further extend its life span. AMSOIL achieves this by removing impurities and allowing molecules to slip more easily over one another, reducing energy lost to friction and maximizing fuel economy.

Polyester polyols based on rPET and other recycled components. Resinate® is a product line that uses recycled and renewable materials for high-performance applications in coating, adhesives, and foams. The product, Resinate® EP1000-5.6, is based on rPET (recycled PET) and other recycled components, resulting in 66% recycled content. Resinate® C2051-50 is a modified polyol for the coatings marketplace and contains 50% renewable content. 

High-performance hydrocarbon oils from plant sugars for lubricants. These plant-derived lubricants have exceptional performance with lower carbon footprints. These hydrocarbon oils reduce heat losses during manufacturing to improve energy efficiency.
 

Synthesis of simvastatin with a biocatalyst. Simvastatin is a drug used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol. The conventional synthesis of this drug is not atom-economic (<70% original mass) and utilizes toxic feedstocks. This new process from Professor Tang and his research group at UCLA uses a biocatalyst for regioselective acylation with safer and cheaper reagents in a high-yield, single-step process. 

Solid catalyst alkylation process for the production of alkylate. Alkylate is a clean fuel component of gasoline. Traditional production methods use toxic liquid acid technologies that require post-treatment. Using the Alkystar catalyst, AlkyClean is a more efficeint alkylate production process that increases reaction speed and reduces environmental hazards by eliminating the need for liquid acids.

Natural ester dielectric fluid. PCBs were traditionally used as fluid insulators in transformers and were eventually banned due to their high toxicity. PCBs were then replaced with petroleum-based mineral oil. Unfortunately, mineral oil is highly flammable and has a low affinity for water. Additionally, other insulator materials within transformers are made of cellulose. Thus, water inside the transformers was mostly absorbed by the cellulose-based insulator materials, catalyzing their degradation and reducing the lifetime of the transformers.

Solid catalyst system for the production of Polyisobutylene (PIB). PIB is a polymer of isobutylene often used in lubricants and gasoline. In conventional production, a toxic and corrosive liquid catalyst is used. The liquid catalyst requires an extensive amount of water to neutralize and cannot be reused after neutralization. This company has created a solid catalyst that can be synthesized into convenient shapes. The process does not require neutralization, eliminating the need for extensive water use. Without the need for neutralization, the catalyst can also be reused.