Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Revolutionary Biodegradable Nylon Precursor Created via Artificial Photosynthesis

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

An artificial photosynthesis technology for producing biodegradable nylon from biomass-derived compounds and ammonia has been developed.

Biodegradable plastics made from biomass-derived compounds are attracting attention as alternatives to conventional plastics synthesized from fossil fuels. Similarly, nylon, used in products such as umbrellas, fishing lines, and sportswear, is also produced from fossil fuels and does not biodegrade in nature, leading to environmental pollution. Therefore, there is a demand for alternative materials.

Professor Yutaka Amao (Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis) and graduate student Kyosuke Yamada, a first-year Master's student in the Department of Chemistry at the Graduate School of Science, have developed an artificial photosynthesis technology to synthesize a biodegradable nylon precursor using biomass-derived compounds and ammonia. By focusing on the chemical structure of biodegradable plastic raw materials, they selected amino acids with similar structures as raw materials for nylon-type biodegradable plastics. Furthermore, they have succeeded in synthesizing this precursor using solar energy.

This research has been published online in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels of the Royal Society of Chemistry on November 12, 2024.

By introducing a biocatalyst for amino acid production into a photoredox system, we have succeeded in synthesizing a biodegradable nylon precursor from biomass-derived compounds. Although the experiments were a series of painstaking efforts, we are delighted to have achieved these results. We hope that this research will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and solving environmental pollution.

source:Osaka Metropolitan University

URL:https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SE01215A

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Epoxy resin system for Type 3/4 composite cylinders

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Selecting the right Epoxy resin system for Type 3/4 composite CNG/ H2 Cylinder applications:
Epoxy resin has played a vital role in Composite overwrapped Pressure vessels applications for decades. To improve certain mechanical properties,the two component /multi component epoxy resin system is mainly focused on low viscosity and good wettability that will suit for filament winding process.While preparing the resin formulation ,the glass transition temperature(Tg), ot life,curing time has to be determined to match the entire production process.

High viscous resin will lead to improper wettability and not proper adhesion with the reinforcements(carbon fiber) that will lead to formation of air bubbles and delamination in the end product that deteriorates in the mechanical properties of the type 4 cylinders.

Low viscosity Epoxy Resin:
Low viscosity epoxy resin system is recommended with proper mixed ratios and the entire production process has to maintain proper resin content till the last layer.The fluctuations in the resin content in each layer will lead to formation of voids /delamination in the final product. Interfacial bonding in between fiber and matrix need to be planned well to avoid not infiltrate the fiber in the resin system thus leading to stress transfer failure and performance failures as well.

The importance of Curing time:
Curing time has to be followed as per the manufacturer's recommendations.The curing time is set based on the polymerization reaction in between the epoxy,hardener and accelerators. One has to adhere to the suggested curing time and follow it in the entire batch. I suggest to check the properties of epoxy resin such as potlife,Tg, etc before start the filament winding process.The properties of epoxy resin may change due to the presence of dirt and not properly stored. It is advisable to have an Expert who is well knowledgeable on epoxy chemistry.The presence of impurities/dirt might slow the down the polymerization process during curing and thus leads to have many weak spots in the laminate.That's the reason,the type 4 cylinder manufacturers to stick with curing process with maintain the recommended temperature for 2 hours/4 hours or 6 hours with different curing temperatures. For optimizing the curing process,one has to customize the over that will carry out the entire curing process with different temperatures for hours.

Do not try fabricating your own oven by yourself in the beginning of the plant set up. One small mistake or not proper functioning will make the product fail in the testing.Over heating above recommended temp time also leads to weakening the mechanical properties as well.There is no intermittent break up during curing process. It has to be one cycle properly executed.

Muthuramalingam Krishnan

Credit (Photo) :Hexagon Purus
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Avantium and EPC Engineering & Technologies Collaborate to Commercialize Continuous PEF Production Technology

Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, has signed a collaboration with EPC Engineering & Technologies GmbH, an international technology provider as well as an engineering and plant construction company. This partnership aims to advance the continuous PEF polyester production technology, targeting plant capacities of 100 kilotonnes per annum and beyond. The collaboration will combine the expertise of both companies to commercialize continuous polymerization of PEF (“PEF cPol Technology”). Avantium and EPC will integrate their respective technologies and processes, together with the solid state polymerization (SSP) of POLYMETRIX AG. The PEF cPol Technology will be included in Avantium’s YXY® Technology license package. #EPC will provide engineering, plant construction services and key equipment, including the SSP equipment from POLYMETRIX, to Avantium’s future licensees.

Avantium has developed its proprietary YXY® Technology to produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the essential component for the fully plant-based and circular polymer #PEF (#polyethylenefuranoate). PEF is branded by Avantium as releaf®. Avantium is currently in the process of starting up the world’s first commercial FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. This #FDCA Flagship Plant will play a crucial role in Avantium's commercialization and licensing strategy. The commercial FDCA plant allows Avantium to sell FDCA and releaf® directly to offtake partners, while also offering technology licenses at full scale to industrial partners worldwide. Under such a technology license, industrial partners can produce FDCA and PEF in large-scale production facilities using Avantium’s proprietary YXY® Technology.

Avantium and EPC Engineering & Technologies already worked together in 2017, when EPC developed a conceptual design for a 25 kilotonnes per annum PEF continuous polymerization plant using melt state polymerization. This conceptual design served as the starting point for the Joint Development Agreement to further scale the polymerization technology to 100 kilotonnes per annum and beyond. POLYMETRIX will contribute with its continuous solid state polymerization know-how. With this collaboration, #Avantium is able to extend its YXY® Technology license package to the full continuous PEF production process including performance guarantees at industrial scale, whether greenfield, brownfield or retrofit plant.

source:Avantium

Plant clips made of BASF certified industrial compostable biopolymer

For the sustainable cultivation of greenhouse fruit and vegetables, BASF has developed a certified industrial compostable biopolymer that can be used to manufacture black and white plant clips. With clips made of ecovio® 60 IA 1552 annual creepers like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers can be easily fastened in commercial greenhouses. The clips benefit from the biopolymer’s balanced high performance of strength and flexibility, while being certified industrial compostable according to EN 13432.

Thus they can be collected together with the plant residues after harvesting and put into organics recycling in industrial composting facilities (depending on local regulations) where they biodegrade. With this end-of-life option for clips, persistent microplastic in green waste usually caused by clips made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) can be avoided. At the same time more green waste can be turned into valuable compost contributing to a circular economy.

Clips made of ecovio® 60 IA 1552 are designed to perform effectively in horticulture for many different crops and in many climates throughout the entire crop cycle, easily adapting to various environmental conditions typical for greenhouses, including temperature fluctuations, relative humidity, and exposure to UV radiation. Farmers also benefit from a more cost-effective waste disposal than with non-biodegradable materials: After harvesting they do not have to remove the clips made of ecovio® from the plants but simply collect them together for industrial composting.

Proven industrial compostability:

Composting tests on industrial scale at the Dutch waste management company Renewi at Hook of Holland, show that the green waste together with the clips is successfully processed in industrial composting acc. to ISO 2020 and biodegrades within six weeks after each crop cycle. “As an expert in agricultural waste disposal, we recognize the significant value of BASF’s certified compostable ecovio® to increase organic waste collection and reduce landfill waste.

“This ties in with our commitment to a circular economy, i.e. to make smart use of materials also at the end of life, manage waste effectively and give new life to used materials. This is especially true for agriculture where recycling plays an important role to ensure soil health and food safety.”

For manufacturers of clips, ecovio® 60 IA 1552 is an easy drop-in solution: It can be produced on standard PE or PP machinery for clips. The BASF biopolymer is also approved for food contact according to FDA and European regulations. “We are proud that our ecovio® grade for clips can help farmers to improve the sustainability of their horticultural production and contribute to enhancing compost quality.

source:BASF

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :New Study Shows Plastic Energy's Recycling Technology Can Save up to 89% Emissions

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

New findings show recycling using Plastic Energy’s technology could provide up to 89% emission savings

New research has found recycling plastics, using Plastic Energy’s proprietary technology, currently saves up to 78% CO2 eq. compared to incineration with energy recovery.

These figures can increase to 89% with grid decarbonisation.

The results are part of the company’s latest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, out today, completed by the climate change consultancy Sphera and commissioned by Plastic Energy.

It compares emissions created throughout the lifecycle of hard-to-recycle plastics in different scenarios, including recycling using Plastic Energy’s technology.

These findings build on the company’s first LCA released in 2020.

Plastic Energy’s Head of Policy and Sustainability Adela Putinelu said, “sharing this second LCA is an important milestone for both Plastic Energy, and the chemical recycling industry.

“Being able to properly quantify the environmental impact of our technology, underscores the benefit it provides to emissions, circularity and waste reduction of hard-to-recycle plastics.”

Plastic Energy’s TAC™ recycling process takes end of life post-consumer flexible plastic packaging, destined for incineration or landfill, and creates a recycled oil called TACOIL™.

This recycled oil goes on to replace fossil oils in the production of new plastics.

In this way, it can be viewed both as a waste reduction technology and a production process for creating new raw materials.

“This study demonstrates the possibility of our TAC™ process as a well-established chemical recycling technology producing a valuable alternative feedstock for the chemical industry, as well as serving as a novel waste management pathway,” Putinelu said.

source:Plastic Energy

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :Fatigue in Plastic Parts Failure

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Fatigue is a complicated aspect of plastic parts failure.

While most are aware of the need to keep frequency low in a fatigue test to avoid local heating of the sample, many may not be aware of the following extremely interesting tests to be done.

Let us say you test your sample (at some T and a given Stress Ratio, like 0.1) at 1 Hz and also 2 Hz.

Would you expect your part to fail after :

- the same number of cycles ? or

- the same testing time ?

Well, in a nutshell, if you fail at the same total time (twice the number of cycles) that indicates that your failure is Plasticity Controlled. A DUCTILE failure.

If you fail at the same number of cycles (i.e. half the testing time) your failure is Crack Growth controlled. A BRITTLE failure.

Of course things may be somewhat intermediate, but such simple tests will really inform you about the failure mechanism and help consider better materials for the application.

The test is particularly interesting for GF or CF filled polymers because the lack of visible deformation is often wrongly interpreted as BRITTLE fail !

source:Vito leo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Study Reveals High Levels of PFHxA in Smartwatch and Tracker Bands

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Elevated levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found in several smartwatch wrist bands:

Smartwatches and fitness trackers have become ubiquitous forms of wearable tech, accompanying many people throughout their days (and nights). But they may expose the skin to so-called forever chemicals in the process. More expensive wristbands made from fluorinated synthetic rubber revealed particularly high amounts of one forever chemical, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), according to a study published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

“This discovery stands out because of the very high concentrations of one type of forever chemical found in items that are in prolonged contact with our skin,” says Graham Peaslee, the corresponding author of the study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are very good at two things — lasting seemingly forever in the environment and repelling water, sweat and oil. Because of the latter properties, manufacturers include these chemicals in many consumer products, such as stain-resistant bedding, menstrual products and fitness wear, including smartwatch and fitness tracker wristbands. The bands contain fluoroelastomers, synthetic rubbers made from chains of PFAS, to create a material that avoids discoloration and repels dirt. Though this durability makes the bands great for sweaty workouts, it might also present a source of these compounds to get under the wearer’s skin — literally. So, Peaslee and co-authors Alyssa Wicks and Heather Whitehead investigated several commercially available watchbands for the presence of fluorine as well as 20 individual PFAS.

The team screened 22 wristbands from a range of brands and price points, most of them newly purchased but a few previously worn. All of the 13 bands advertised as being made from fluoroelastomers contained the element fluorine. But two of the nine bands that did not advertise being made from fluoroelastomers also contained fluorine, which indicates the potential presence of PFAS. Of those tested, wristbands that cost more than $30 contained more fluorine than those under $15. Next, following a chemical extraction, all the wristbands were checked for 20 different PFAS. PFHxA was found to be the most common, appearing in nine of 22 tested wristbands. The median PFHxA concentration was found to be nearly 800 parts per billion (ppb), and one sample exceeded 16,000 ppb. Comparatively, previous research by the team in 2023 on cosmetics found a median concentration of around 200 ppb of PFAS. Currently, only six PFAS have federally defined exposure limits for drinking water in the U.S.; exposure limits for other PFAS and other exposure routes are still being studied.

“We have never seen extractable concentrations in the part-per-million range (>1000 ppb) for any wearable consumer product applied to the skin,” says Peaslee.

source:American Chemical Society