A New Eco-friendly Way to Produce Cashew Nut Shells-derived UV Absorbers

A team of international scientists has found an environmentally friendly way of producing aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance by using cashew nut shells, a waste material. 

Eco-friendly Way of Producing Aromatic Compounds

The team of “green chemists” from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with colleagues from Universities in Germany, Malawi and Tanzania, are working on techniques to produce useful compounds from wood and other fast growing non-edible plant waste, through a chemical process named xylochemistry (wood chemistry). 

By using cashew nut shells, the team has produced new aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance, which may be applied to protect humans, livestock, as well as polymers or coatings from harmful rays from the sun. The research has just been published as the cover article of the European Journal of Organic Chemistry.

Conventional UV Filters

To mitigate UV damage, both organic and inorganic compounds are used as UV filters. Ideal organic UV filters display a high UV absorption of UVA rays (in the region ranging from 315–400 nm) and UVB rays (280–315 nm). One important family of UV absorber molecules are derived from aromatic compounds known as phenols, which contain a hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl group that plays an important role in the dissipation of the absorbed energy.

For example, an organic compound known as oxybenzone is a common ingredient that has also been added to plastics to limit UV degradation. Apart from their petrochemical origin, a major drawback of current UV protection agents is their negative effect on aquatic ecosystems associated with a poor biodegradability. 

As a result, there is growing attention from regulatory bodies and stricter regulations are being enforced on the production of sun filtering products. 

Producing New UV Absorbers from CNSL

“With the current concerns over the use of fossil resources for chemical synthesis of functional molecules and the effect of current UV absorbers in sunscreens on the ecosystem, we aimed to find a way to produce new UV absorbers from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) as a non-edible, bio renewable carbon resource,” says Professor Charles de Koning, of the Wits School of Chemistry and principal author of the paper, together with Till Opatz from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. 

“Cashew nut shells are a waste product in the cashew-farming community, especially in Tanzania, so finding a useful, sustainable way to use these waste products can lead to completely new, environmentally friendly ways of doing things.”

The team has already filed a patent application in order to commercialize the process in South Africa. 

Source: University of Witwatersrand

Braskem to Launch Sugarcane-based Hydrocarbon Solvent

Committed to developing sustainable and innovative solutions, Braskem has announced its first solvent made from renewable resources. The product will reinforce the company's already robust portfolio of specialty chemicals and has applications in segments such as inks, thinners and adhesives. 

New Solvent with Lower Toxicity and Greater Solvency Power

Made from sugarcane, HE-70S is the result of an investment of R$1 million and Braskem's constant search for sustainable solutions. The new biobased oxygenated solvent features lower toxicity and greater solvency power compared to traditional hydrocarbon solvents. The solution already has been adopted in clients' production process and others are in the test phase to customize the product to the specific needs of each application.

In Brazil, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvent segments has annual production of approximately 700,000 tons. As one of the country's industry leaders, Braskem seeks to offer alternatives to ensure the industry's sustainable growth. In line with the company's strategic vision to foster Green Chemicals, bioproducts can be used as a tool for capturing carbon from the air, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Innovating and Standing Apart in Industry

"We focus on offering clients the possibility of innovating and standing apart in their industry. We work to maintain close relationships to understand better our clients' challenges and to meet their needs as effectively as possible, including by customizing solutions to leverage their performance in the market," explained Cláudia Madrid, sales manager at Braskem's Solvents Business. 

HE-70S solvent is the first product developed by the Solvents Laboratory, which was inaugurated by Braskem in 2018 at the Petrochemical Complex in the ABC region of Greater São Paulo. "Since the lab's inauguration, we have made progress in the research that already was being conducted internally, and we arrived at this new product that will serve an important part of the value chain," added Cláudia. 

Source: Braskem

Beijing wants hydrogen energy projects sped up to be ready for two major events

The Yanqing District in Beijing is accelerating the construction of two hydrogen projects.

Beijing’s Yanqing District, which is a subdivision of Beijing located about 75 kilometers north-west of China’s capital city, has multiple hydrogen energy projects underway, including two hydrogenation stations and a support hydrogen plant. According to Xinhua, the official state-run press agency of China, the Yanqing District is speeding up the construction of these projects in time for the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2020 and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will reportedly be used for transportation during the events.

The hydrogen energy projects will produce a public transport line, which will be opened in Yanqing District. The plan is that for the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2020 and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, athletes, spectators and workers will be transported between venues with green, carbon-free, environmentally-friendly hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Hydrogen power for transportation and for other applications is gaining in significance around the globe, especially in countries hosting multi-national events that draw mass worldwide attention.

For instance, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games will not be the first to have a hydrogen energy component. The upcoming Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be very hydrogen-focused. Beyond integrating hydrogen power into the Athletes’ Olympic Village, Hydrogen Fuel News reported that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be the official vehicles of the 2020 Olympic Games.

China is well-known for its pollution and poor air quality, especially in its major cities, such as Beijing. Industrializing alternative energies, such as hydrogen, could go a long way in helping the country combat its greenhouse gas emissions.

At the end of 2017, Beijing reportedly issued a document that noted the city would promote the application of hydrogen production and hydrogenation core technology in the relevant areas of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Earlier this year, Yanqing District and China Power International Development Limited collaborated to plan the construction of Yanqing Hydrogen Industry Park. They carried out equipment research and development, production, and technology application around the green hydrogen industry in an effort to accelerate the industrialization of hydrogen power.

That said, it has not yet been revealed what hydrogen production method will be used in the Yanqing District hydrogen energy projects.

Source:Xinhua

SICOMIN LAUNCHES SR GREENPOXY 28 - THE NEW BIO BASED EPOXY RESIN FOR HP-RTM PROCESSING

As the Automotive industry focuses on more sustainable manufacturing, Sicomin, the leading supplier of eco-resins, has announced a replacement for petroleum based materials with the launch of its new bio-based epoxy resin aimed specifically for HP-RTM processing techniques.

SR GreenPoxy 28 is the sixth product to be added to Sicomin’s renowned GreenPoxy range and is available with immediate effect in the industrial quantities typically required by Automotive OEM’s.

Certified by Veritas, SR GreenPoxy 28 is a fast cycle, low toxicity, third generation bio based formulation aimed specifically at the HP-RTM moulding processes used for both high performance structural parts and aesthetic carbon fibre components. The new formulation has been optimized for fast production cycle times and superior mechanical performance.

SR GreenPoxy 28 can be fully cured using a 2-minute cure cycle at 140 Deg C, producing an onset Tg of 147 Deg C, as well as exceptional mechanical properties under both dry and hot/wet test conditions.

Comments Philippe Marcovich, President, Sicomin; “More and more manufacturers and suppliers are betting on bio-based alternatives derived from renewable raw materials. The latest addition to our GreenPoxy range, SR GreenPoxy 28, is an exciting alternative to traditional resins providing exceptional performance and quality for high volume programmes.”

Source:SICOMIN

A New Way to Turn Chicken Feathers into High-performing Fire Retardant

Researchers at the University of Auckland have developed a way to turn chicken feathers into a high-performing fire retardant. 

New Safer Alternative to FRs

Chicken is a popular source of protein in most parts of the world and millions of chickens are produced each year for us to eat – in New Zealand it’s estimated we each eat, on average, about 40 chickens a year.

Billions of chicken feathers are produced by the poultry industry, most of which end up in the incinerator or landfill. Chicken feathers are, in short, an international waste problem.

However, Distinguished Professor Debes Bhattacharyya of the Faculty of Engineering has found a way to use chicken feathers as a base for a fire-retardant, one that is safer than many fire-retardants, cheaper to produce, and solves an international waste problem at the same time.

“People pay to get rid of chicken feathers,” he says.

Keratinous Fibers from Chicken Feathers

Chicken feathers are made of keratinous fibers which are found in the hair, wool, horns and hooves of mammals. They are also naturally occurring flame inhibitors. Fire retardants are added to industrial and consumer products such as furniture, textiles, electronics, even Christmas trees, as well as building products such as insulation. Traditionally halogen compounds were added to create flame retardant material, but while they were effective, they were highly toxic. 

“They might have saved you from death by burning, but have exposed to many more effects that are detrimental to health. Furthermore, as a result of the environmental long life and bioaccumulation, traces of the compounds have been detected in everything from household dust to breast milk, causing hormone-disrupting effects", says Dr Bhattacharayya. 

As a result there has been a global shift away from halogenic retardants and toward other types of retardants among which ammonium polyphosphate (APP) is the most prominent. However, as they are expensive to produce there is an increasing demand for alternatives.

Dr Bhattacharayya and his team have previously shown that chemically modified wool fibers also made of keratin can also be used as an effective retardant. This could potentially provide a revenue stream for low-grade wool in an era when the price of and demand for wool have declined.

Alternative Source of Keratinous Fibers

They more recently turned to chicken feathers as an alternative source of keratinous fibers, which are even cheaper and in many countries, more of a waste problem.

The team has developed a rapid and simple way to chemically modify the keratinous fibers of both wool and chicken feathers, and convert them into a flame retardant powder that can be added to polymeric materials.

The powder enhances the fire retardancy of the polymer by accelerating char formation, the solid material produced in the initial stages of combustion, and which inhibits combustion.

“Moreover, standard fire retardants need to be added in high concentrations which can reduce strength as a result, but what we’re showing is that we can optimize the process so that this fire retardant removes this disadvantage of inferior mechanical performance compared to current fire retardants,” says Dr Bhattacharyya.

“We also assessed this from a commercial perspective and have been able to show that the cost around this compound is around a third lower than the existing standard compounds used as a fire retardant. So it’s a perfect fire retardant material, passes most of the fire retardant standards, and can be used with polymeric materials.”

He acknowledges that the method has so far been proven in the lab and getting it to market will require getting companies on board to develop ways to produce the keratinous fiber-based product at a large scale, and to ensure that it is compatible with existing manufacturing processes.

“However, initial results are very promising and has attracted the interests of several multi-national companies."

“Our invention, whose intellectual property rights are protected, has been tested to show that it could be a direct replacement for APP, the predominant existing product.”

Source: University of Auckland

Researchers Find New Method to Produce Conductive Graphene Material Using Bacteria

In order to create new and more efficient computers, medical devices, and other advanced technologies, researchers are turning to nanomaterials: materials manipulated on the scale of atoms or molecules that exhibit unique properties. 

Graphene—a flake of carbon as thin as a single layer of atoms—is a revolutionary nanomaterial due to its ability to easily conduct electricity, as well as its extraordinary mechanical strength and flexibility. However, a major hurdle in adopting it for everyday applications is producing graphene at a large scale, while still retaining its amazing properties.

Mixing Oxidized Graphite with Bacteria

In a paper published in the journal ChemOpen, Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor of biology at the University of Rochester, and her colleagues at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, describe a way to overcome this barrier. The researchers outline their method to produce graphene materials using a novel technique: mixing oxidized graphite with bacteria. Their method is a more cost-efficient, time-saving, and environmentally friendly way of producing graphene materials versus those produced chemically, and could lead to the creation of innovative computer technologies and medical equipment.

Thinnest Yet Strongest

Graphene is extracted from graphite, the material found in an ordinary pencil. At exactly one atom thick, graphene is the thinnest—yet strongest—two-dimensional material known to researchers. Scientists from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of graphene; however, their method of using sticky tape to make graphene yielded only small amounts of the material.

“For real applications you need large amounts,” Meyer says. “Producing these bulk amounts is challenging and typically results in graphene that is thicker and less pure. This is where our work came in.”

Lab Procedure

In order to produce larger quantities of graphene materials, Meyer and her colleagues started with a vial of graphite. They exfoliated the graphite—shedding the layers of material—to produce graphene oxide (GO), which they then mixed with the bacteria Shewanella. They let the beaker of bacteria and precursor materials sit overnight, during which time the bacteria reduced the GO to a graphene material.

“Graphene oxide is easy to produce, but it is not very conductive due to all of the oxygen groups in it,” Meyer says. “The bacteria remove most of the oxygen groups, which turns it into a conductive material.”

While the bacterially-produced graphene material created in Meyer’s lab is conductive, it is also thinner and more stable than graphene produced chemically. It can additionally be stored for longer periods of time, making it well suited for a variety of applications, including field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors and conducting ink. FET biosensors are devices that detect biological molecules and could be used to perform, for example, real-time glucose monitoring for diabetics.

“When biological molecules bind to the device, they change the conductance of the surface, sending a signal that the molecule is present,” Meyer says. “To make a good FET biosensor you want a material that is highly conductive but can also be modified to bind to specific molecules.” Graphene oxide that has been reduced is an ideal material because it is lightweight and very conductive, but it typically retains a small number of oxygen groups that can be used to bind to the molecules of interest.

Bacterially-produced Graphene Material - Applications

The bacterially produced graphene material could also be the basis for conductive inks, which could, in turn, be used to make faster and more efficient computer keyboards, circuit boards, or small wires such as those used to defrost car windshields. Using conductive inks is an “easier, more economical way to produce electrical circuits, compared to traditional techniques,” Meyer says. Conductive inks could also be used to produce electrical circuits on top of nontraditional materials like fabric or paper.

“Our bacterially produced graphene material will lead to far better suitability for product development,” Meyer says. “We were even able to develop a technique of ‘bacterial lithography’ to create graphene materials that were only conductive on one side, which can lead to the development of new, advanced nanocomposite materials.”

Source: University of Rochester