Feedstock

Synthesis of biodiesel and NOBS (advanced bleaching system). This company's biodiesel comes from multiple sustainable feedstocks, including inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, degummed/crude soil oil, beef tallow, and pork lard. These feedstocks do not compete with food production. This company produces 89 million gallons of biodiesel per year and has an on-site liquid waste treatment facility. NOBS is a bleach activator that performs in cold water. Traditional stain removal ingredients, such as sodium hypochlorite, contain chlorine, which corrodes washing machines and destroys fabrics.

Polyester polyols made from byproduct of the phtahlic anhydride process. Byproducts from the phthalic anhydride process are usually disposed by incineration. Using these byproducts to manufacture polyester polyols reduces waste and its associated environmental impacts.

Olefin metathesis catalyst that converts renewable, natural oils into various products. Natural oil metathesis is a technology that transforms plant oils into high-performing, environmentally friendly specialty chemicals. This process uses a highly efficient, selective metathesis catalyst to derive value-added speacilty chemicals and olefins from natural oils. Compared to petrochemicals, this process reduces source pollution, energy consumption, production costs, and capital expenditures. The manufacturing process is low-pressure and low-temperature and can utilize virtually ant plant oil.

Paper products made by using an enzyme to digest straw into pulp. The enzyme eliminates the need for harsh chemicals used in traditional pulping methods, reducing water and energy consumption. Mobious straw paper and molded pulp products are made from waste straw bought from local farmers in China, which reduces CO2 emissions as less straw is burned. 

Upcycled carbon black from end-of-life tires. Over 1.5 billion end-of-life tires enter the global waste stream annually. This process upcycles end-of-life tires to produce carbon black and tire pyrolytic oil and gas, reducing oil use and carbon dioxide emissions. These carbon blacks are a sustainable, one-to-one replacement for ASTM furnace carbon blacks. The process consists of 5 stages: steel removal, carbonization, de-agglomeration, pelletizing, and drying.

Performance additive that enables asphalt recycling. This additive enables the high-end reuse of recycled asphalt. It improves resource efficiency by reducing the need for new aggregates and bitumen. The additive is derived from crude tail oil (CTO), which is a biobased raw byproduct from the paper industry. This product is resistant to harsh weather conditions and has high performance throughout its durable life. The product also does not release harmful components during production and application.

Sustainable, closed-loop metal recycling process. The AquaRefining™ process is a clean, water-based recycling process for ultra-high purity lead. The process opeartes at room-temperature in a closed-loop and is nonpolluting. The closed-loop system enables the recycling of chemicals and water. This process yields products with higher quality and lower costs and reduces greenhouse gas emisisons by eliminating the smelting process. Recycling metals will lower the reliance on unsafe and toxic mining operations.

Flexible foam derived from soybean oil. Polyols are the key ingredient in making foams flexible and versatile. BiOH® polyols are soy-based ingredients for flexible foam in furniture, mattresses, pillows, and cushions. Traditional foams are derived from petroleum-based products. These polyols also have superior performance. The process occurs in mild temperatures and atmospheric pressure and is energy efficient and cost-effective. Using BiOH® technology, customers are able to create foam products with renewable content ranging from 5 to 20%.

Process for renewable bio-1,4-butanediol (BDO). Geno BDO™ is a process that derives BDO from plant sugars instead of fossil fuel feedstocks. BDO can be used in a variety of everyday materials and consumer products, such as spandex, shoes, cars, and electronics. This novel process is cost-effecting and estimated to result in 90% carbon reduction. Producing all BDO with the Geno BDO™ process would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 million tons.