Researchers Develop a Method to Produce Bio-based Nylon Using Microorganisms

Until now, nylon has been produced from petroleum-based raw materials. However, this is quite harmful to the environment because non-renewable fossil resources are used, a great deal of energy is required, and climate-damaging nitrous oxide is emitted during production.

A research team from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Leipzig University has now developed a process that can produce adipic acid, one of two building blocks of nylon, from phenol through electrochemical synthesis and the use of microorganisms.

The team also showed that phenol can be replaced by waste materials from the wood industry. This could then be used to produce bio-based nylon. The research work was published in Green Chemistry.

Electrochemical Synthesis Replaces Hydrogen Gas with Electric Energy:

In T-shirts, stockings, shirts, and ropes -or as a component of parachutes and car tires - polyamides are used everywhere as synthetic fibers. At the end of the 1930s, the name Nylon was coined for such synthetic polyamides. Nylon6 and Nylon6.6 are two polyamides that account for around 95% of the global nylon market. Until now, they have been produced from fossil-based raw materials.

However, this petrochemical process is harmful to the environment because it emits around 10% of the climate-damaging nitrous oxide (laughing gas) worldwide and requires a great deal of energy. Our goal is to make the entire nylon production chain environmentally friendly. This is possible if we access bio-based waste as feedstock and make the synthesis process sustainable".

For example nylon consists of about 50% adipic acid, which has so far been industrially extracted from petroleum. In a first step, phenol is converted to cyclohexanol, which is then converted to adipic acid. This energy intensive process requires high temperatures, high gas pressure, and a large amount of organic solvents. It also releases a lot of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. The researchers have now developed a process in which they can convert phenol into cyclohexanol using an electrochemical process.

"The chemical transformation behind it is the same as in the established processes. However, electrochemical synthesis replaces the hydrogen gas with electric energy which takes place in an aqueous solution and requires only ambient pressure and temperature explains Harnisch. For this reaction to run as quickly and efficiently as possible, a suitable catalyst is needed. This would maximize the yield of electrons needed for the reaction and the efficiency of the conversion of phenol to cyclohexanol. In laboratory experiments, the best yields (almost 70% electrons and just over 70% cyclohexanol) were shown with a carbon-based rhodium catalyst.

Source: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)/specialchem

MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#bioplastics #sustainable #nylon #electrochemical #synthesis

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Geometric lattice cores:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Geometric lattice cores:

When talking about geometric lattice cores, most people think about a core with hexagon shaped cells, which is the basic and most common cellular honeycomb configuration. However, we have other options currently available on the market, such as Flex-Core, Ox-Core and Double-Flex to name a few.

But how to select between them?

The Flex-Core cell configuration provides for exceptional formability in compound curvatures with reduced anticlastic curvature and without buckling the cell walls. Curvatures of very tight radii are easily formed. When formed into tight radii, Flex-Core provides higher shear strengths than comparable hexagonal core of equivalent density.

The “OX” configuration is a hexagonal honeycomb that has been over-expanded in the “W” direction, providing a rectangular cell configuration that facilitates curving or forming in the “L” direction. The OX process increases “W” shear properties and decreases “L” shear properties when compared to hexagonal honeycomb.

Double-Flex is a unique large cell Aluminum Flex-Core with excellent formability and high specific compression properties. Double-Flex formability is similar to standard Flex-Core.

Source: Hexcel/ #managingcomposites #thenativelab

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com  

#composites #cores #aluminum #shear

LyondellBasell Acquires 50% Stake in Stiphout, a Dutch Recycling Company

LyondellBasell announced it has acquired a 50% stake in Stiphout Industries B.V. ("Stiphout"). Stiphout is involved in the sourcing and processing of post-consumer plastic packaging waste.

The company operates a facility located in Montfort, the Netherlands, with an annual processing capacity equivalent to the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by over 500,000 Dutch citizens per year.

Leverage Local Synergies with Quality Circular Polymers Business

"Investing in Stiphout aligns with our strategy to invest in recycling and plastic waste processing companies that support our existing assets in the Netherlands and Germany and fits with our integrated hub model," says Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell executive vice president, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions. "Through this collaboration, we can leverage local synergies with our Quality Circular Polymers business in terms of logistics and operations. It also unlocks possibilities to further expand our CirculenRecover portfolio, creating solutions for customers and brand owners in support of their circular and low-carbon targets".

Stiphout was founded in 2015 and has over time built up experience in the processing of plastic household waste into clean flakes of recycled polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials, establishing itself as an innovative player in the Netherlands.

"Partnering with an experienced polymer producer will provide possibilities to further step-up commercial and operational excellence of our operations," says Eline Stiphout, founder and CEO of the Stiphout group. "We are excited to team up with LyondellBasell since we share that circularity is critical to helping end plastic waste".

Source: LyondellBasell/Omnexus-specialchem

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#plastics #recycling #dutch #recyclingindustry

PS:Since I have known her for some time in the recycling business,it is good to see her growing more and more.True Professionalism and hard work pays off in the end.She is good at sourcing the plastic flakes from various regions in EU.i Wish Eline Stiphout a great success in the coming years too.

Braskem Invests $87 Million More in Brazilian Biopolymer Production

Braskem announced on July 24 that the company concluded a 30% increase in the production capacity of its bio-based ethylene plant, located in the Petrochemical Complex of Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The recent $87 million investment in the facility is intended to meet the growing global demand for sustainable products. The plant now operates at an higher capacity, increasing from 200,000 to 260,000 tons yearly.

Braskem’s bio-based ethylene is made from sustainably sourced, sugarcane-based ethanol which removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores it in products for daily use.

The initiative is an important advance in the company's ambition to increase the production of biopolymers to one million tons by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2050.

"The expansion of bio-based ethylene capacity reinforces Braskem’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation and proves the success of the strategy we engaged in thirteen years ago, when we launched the world’s first bio-based polyethylene production at industrial scale, with proprietary technology. We want to meet society's and customers' demand for products with less impact on the environment,” explains Walmir Soller, O/P VP for Europe and Asia and responsible for the I’m green bio-based business globally.

Each ton of plastic resin made from renewable feedstock represents the removal of 3 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Since the plant's beginning in 2010, more than 1.2 million tons of I’m green bio-based polyethylene has been produced. The recent increase in production capacity will remove approximately 185,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

Braskem’s portfolio of bio-based resins is exported to more than 30 countries and is used in products from more than 250 major brands, such as Allbirds, DUO UK, Grupo Boticário, Johnson&Johnson, Natura & Co, Nissin, and Tetra Pak. These bio-based resins are used to manufacture packaging, bags, toys, housewares, industrial cables and wires, packaging films, hockey fields, and reusable water bottles among many other products.

Source:Plasticstoday

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#braskem #biobased #ethylene #biobasedmaterials #biopolymers #packaging #bottle #production

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Why do we fail so often to predict brittle failure ?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Why do we fail so often to predict brittle failure ?

Shear (or compression by the way) cannot promote cavitation and crack. It may however trigger Yielding and ductile failure, which we predict often correctly by looking at the equivalent Von Mises stress (a sort of average shear load) and compare to Yield.

Brittle failure is initiated when our load is not trying to change the sample shape (like shear does) but rather the sample volume, more specifically in tension. If we fail to scrutinize the level of so-called "triaxiality", as described by the 3 Principal Stresses, brittle failure may go unpredicted.

This is why, in our industry, we suffer from severe customer complaints or liabilities, usually related to "unexpected" brittle failure in the field.

Source:Vito Leo

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#plastics #failure #brittle

NOVA Chemicals to Develop Its First Mechanical Recycling Facility

NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) has made a significant expansion of its Circular Solutions business by announcing an investment into developing its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Ind.

The facility will process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO™ recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025, delivering over 100 million pounds of rPE to the market by 2026.

NOVA Chemicals plans to expand its recycling footprint over the next several years to help it reach its industry-leading 2030 ambition of 30 percent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales.

Area with Access to Abundant Feedstock Supply

The company recently announced its 2030 Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership aspirations, including its anticipated investment of between US$2-4 billion by 2030 to expand its sustainable product offerings, decarbonize its assets, and build a state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business while exploring new advanced recycling technologies.

“NOVA Chemicals continues to show clear leadership in reshaping plastics for a better, more sustainable world,” said NOVA Chemicals president and CEO, Roger Kearns. “We are committed to helping our customers achieve their recycled content goals through a variety of business models and we look forward to making more announcements like this as we work to enable a low-carbon, zero plastic waste future.”

The facility will employ approximately 125 people and be one of Connersville’s largest private employers. Connersville was strategically selected because of its access to abundant feedstock supply of post-consumer films from nearby metropolitan areas, and easy-to-access rail service for distributing SYNDIGO™ rPE to NOVA Chemicals’ customers. The facility will be operated by Novolex Holdings, LLC (“Novolex”) – a developer of packaging products for foodservice and industrial markets – leveraging its more than 15 years’ experience in operating plastic film recycling facilities. The collaboration will increase the speed with which NOVA Chemicals ramps up its supply of SYNDIGO™ rPE to the market.

“Novolex is proud to collaborate with NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions and is excited by the opportunity to operate this state-of-the art recycling facility in the Hoosier state,” said Novolex chairman and CEO, Stanley Bikulege. “Indiana has long been a hub for sustainability, innovation, and business. The new plant will build on our experience of operating both our North Vernon plastics recycling facility in Indiana and our recycling plant in Wisconsin as well as accelerate our commitment to support recycling and the circular economy.”

Source: NOVA Chemicals/omnexus-specialchem

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#plastics #films #recycling #polyethylene #sustainable #decarbonization #novachemicals

Melodea Introduces Barrier Product for the Recyclability of Plastic Food Packaging

Barrier coatings producer Melodea has introduced a barrier product specifically engineered to allow for the recyclability of plastic food packaging.

Named MelOx NGen, the new barrier has proven superior in its key role of maintaining food freshness and substantially reducing plastic waste.

Protects and Extends the Shelf-life of Foods:

MelOx NGen is a water-based, plant-sourced coating designed to line the inside surface of numerous forms of plastic food packaging such as films, pouches, bags, lidding, and blister packs used to house CPG products and is currently being rolled out to the global plastic industry.

Approved by FDA and BfR as compatible for food contact, the coating helps protect and extend the shelf-life of foods such as snacks, confectionary, nutrition bars, meats, and dairy products as well as pharmaceuticals.

Melox NGen is a new iteration of Melodea’s award-winning bio-based and renewable material MelOx for paper packaging but designed specifically for use on plastic. Used to line packaging as a transparent layer, it offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to petroleum-based Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol copolymers; - EVOH which are currently widely used in packaging for its food preservation properties.

MelOx NGen, could help expand the scope of plastic food packaging eligible for recycling. It can empower food packagers to fulfill their sustainability goals and align themselves with government regulations aimed at reducing the utilization of single-use plastics.

Cost-effective Solution to Recycle Mono-structure Plastics

As a part of a long-term strategy for reducing plastic consumption and waste, the EU has implemented the Plastic Waste Directive. This directive sets targets for the recycling and reuse of plastic packaging waste. It established a minimum recycling target of 50% for plastic packaging by 2025, increasing to 55% by 2030.

“The global collective effort to drastically curb plastic use is a long and complex process,” said Shaul Lapidot,CEO and co-founder of Melodea. “Our holistic solution can help ease the pressure by boosting the integration of plastic packaging into the circular economy, immediately.”

“The majority of plastic packaging available today cannot be recycled due to its multi-structure composition. “EVOH, which is typically infused into the thin plastic films of the food packaging to serve as an oxygen barrier, is non-recyclable preventing the entire package from being recyclable.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a global surge in demand for EVOH, resulting in a significant spike in prices. These prices climbed from $5.5 per kg in 2019 to anywhere between $11 and $14 per kilo at the end of 2022 and are expected to rise further.

Source: Melodea/omnexus-specialchem

Visit MY BLOG http://polymerguru.blogspot.com

#plastics #packaging #barrier #recycling #waste #EVOH