Plastics & Polymers

Two synthetic routes for the production of thermal polyaspartic acid. TPA is a non-toxic, biodegradable, and cost effective polymer with applications in many industrial processes, such as agriculture, water treatment, and detergent, oil, and gas industries. TPA functions as a more sustainable alternative to convetional polyacrylic acids (PAC). The first route for the synthesis of TPA consists of a solventless solid-state-polymerization-reaction that transforms the aspartic acid monomor into polysuccinimide, eliminating the use of organic solvents.

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizatoin (ATRP) for manufacturing polymers. ATRP is the most effecting method of controlled radical polymerization (CRP). The ATRP process allows for the easy formation of polymers by assembling monomors in a piece-by-piece fashion. This allows for the production of a wide range of polymers with specific functions and properties. The ATRP process uses enviromentally friends chemicals, such ascorbic acid, and requires less transition metal catalysts.

Packaging material made of renewable wood fibers. Paptic® is bio-based, recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable. It outperforms paper and has smaller environmental impact than cotton. The material is also distinctive in its texture and appearance. Paptic® is made using renewable, wood-based fibers from sustainably managed forests. Paptic® is produced using current paper machines that require slight modifications, making the process sustainable and scalable. Paptic is tear resistant, moisture resistant, flexible, soft, food contact approved, and porous.

Coverts abundant methane gas into biodegradable materials. Methane is the byproduct of several essential operations. Unfortunately, there are not many economically beneficial uses of methane. This company posits its factories next to existing methane production facilities. Using methanotrophs (a type of bacteria), the company naturally produces PHA; methanotrophs store carbon within their cell walls as PHA. More specifically, the methanotrophs produce pure P3HB, which is a member of the PHA family. The methanotrophs used in the process are also not genetically modified.

General purpose non-orthophthalate plasticizer. Phthalate esters are used in conventional plasticizers and are hazardous to the environment and human health due to their toxicity and volatility. Eastman Chemical Company developed a non-orthophtalate plasticizer with equal or superior performance to convention orthophthalate plasticizers. Features of this plasticizer include good performance properties, excellent low-temperature flexibility, resistance to extraction by soapy water, and excellent non-migration properties.

Polylactic acid (PLA) made from greenhouse gases. This process transforms greenhouse gases into PLA by using agricultural crops to sequester carbon and transform it to simple plant sugars through photosynthesis. The plants are milled to extract glucose as starch. Enzymes are then added to convert the glucose to dextrose via hydrolysis. Microorganisms then ferment the dextrose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is converted to lactide and lactide is polymerized into Ingeo™ PLA by opening the lactide ring and linking them together to form a long polylactide polymer chain.

Non-phthalate plasticizer for flexible PVC. While flexible PVC is less dependent on raw fossil materials, significant ingredients in its production are plasticizers. Conventional plasticizers are made of phthalate esters, which carry health concerns. Prevalen™ is plasticizer made of pentaerythritol tetravalerate (PETV). This novel plasticizer has excellent processing properties, high plasticizing efficiency, exceptional UV resistance, low volatility and smoke. It is also produced using less finite raw materials than conventional plasticizers.

Catalysts that use carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to produce polymers. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are ideal feedstocks for chemistry because they are abundant, renewable, and easily extracted at low costs. This technology polymerizes carbon dioxide and epoxides into polycarbonates that can be used as feedstocks to produce pharmaceuticals and plastics. Novomer Inc. uses polycarbonate coating in their electronics through a process called Novo™.

Fully compostable packaging. This technology emulates the properties and functionality of conventional plastic such as polyethylene and polypropylene, while being made from a blend of fully compostable polymers. This packaging demonstrates excellent optical, mechanical, and barrier properties (high transparency, printability, high sealing strength, high impact, and high barrier). The packaging is certified home or industrial compostable. The laminates and labels of the packaging are also compostable.

Plastic polymer made from the contact between methane-based gas mixture and common atmospheric gases. This technology uses natural ocean organisms to make PHB from air and greenhouse gases. This PHB is AirCarbon. AirCarbon can be melted and cooled into fibers, sheets, and solid parts in order replace synthetic plastic and animal leather. PHB is natural and natural microorganisms can consume it. AirCarbon anaerobically digests into greenhouse gases that can be used to make new Air Carbon.