New materials and compounds driving sustainable chemistry innovation

Net zero and sustainable development goals have compelled many industries to discover and develop new materials for their products. To achieve this transition, engineers, researchers, product developers and other industry professionals are tasked with influencing and updating systems that have been in place for decades or longer. Innovation has become a greater necessity in the chemicals industry, driving the development of novel solutions in biomass feedstocks, biopolymers, biopolymer composites and more.

Sustainable Feedstocks

Photosynthetic organisms as sustainable feedstocks

Photosynthetic organisms like microalgae(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) and cyanobacteria are seen as carbon-neutral, sustainable feedstocks as their cultivation does not require arable land, pesticides and agricultural machinery. Brown algae(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana), for instance, has a dry weight composed of 40% alginates, which can be blended with starches to create bioplastics. These organisms' photosynthetic machinery also makes them an ideal source of biomass feedstocks for biofuel. Additionally, cyanobacterial strains have been used for producing ethanol(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana), isobutanol(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) (a potential gasoline substitute), ethylene(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) and isoprene(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana).

Researchers have proposed the following methods for connecting these biomass feedstocks to existing production processes:

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  Conversion to methane(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) through fermentation

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  Release of the biomass’s biomolecular components(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) (e.g., carbohydrates, cellulose, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins) through biorefinery methods, such as mechanical cell cracking, hydrothermal liquefaction and anaerobic digestion(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana)

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  The production of hydrogen via genetically engineered cynobacteria(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana)

While the global biofuel market is projected to reach $225.9 billion by 2028(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana), for instance, there remain obstacles toward large-scale adoption of these products, including high production cost and the need for more matured technology.(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana)

Residual biomass as a circular resource

Waste as a source of biomass feedstocks supports circularity goals. It’s also an ideal resource for confronting the problems inherent in first-generation feedstocks, such as the negative environmental impact of cutting down trees or planting water-hungry crops for fuel and plastic production.

Resources for residual biomass include:

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  Food industry waste — e.g., fruit seeds, root-crop peels, crustacean shells

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  Agricultural waste — e.g., corn cobs, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran

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  Biowaste from effluents — e.g., household wastewater, oil industry effluents

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  Other types of waste — e.g., paper, municipal solid waste (household trash)

A project by Repsol aims to use residual soft-wood and plant waste as biofuel(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) feedstocks through hydrolysis. The proposed biorefinery could lower CO₂ emissions by 510,000 tons a year if successful. Triglyceride-rich waste oils such as vegetable oil can be transformed into epoxy resins(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) through epoxidation, while limonene (an essential oil in citrus peels) can be used as a feedstock for bio-based polycarbonate(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) to create a sustainable plastic resin.

Biopolymers

Biopolymers are widely used in food processing, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. They’re particularly promising materials in the search for sustainable alternatives(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) for plastic films, packaging and electronic and medical components.

But with the push toward net zero goals, the industry has been reckoning with the fact that not all biopolymers are sustainable. In fact, roughly half of the bioplastics(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) in the market are non-biodegradable. Biopolymers (and bioplastics, by extension) may be bio-based but non-biodegradable, fossil-based but biodegradable, or bio-based and biodegradable.

Bio-based but non-biodegradable polymers are not necessarily more sustainable if their farming and production processes result in a significant carbon footprint. One cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) found that bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles may have a worse environmental impact than fossil-based ones.

Further complicating the situation, fossil-based but biodegradable polymers also fall under the umbrella term “biopolymers.” Polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) is derived from organic compounds (1,4-butanediol and adipic acid and the polymer of dimethyl terephthalate) and is non-renewable. It is also fully biodegradable. In a home compost, PBAT can degrade within three to six months(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana).

As a co-polyester(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana), PBAT combines the biodegradability of aliphatic polyesters with the mechanical properties of aromatic ones. It shares the stretchable, film-like property of low-density polyethylene (PE), making it a popular material for products like compostable trash bags(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) (when combined with polylactic acid [PLA]) and degradable mulch films for agriculture.

However, in soil, PBAT microplastic (PBAT-MP) degradation(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) may produce chemicals that can be highly toxic to plants. PBAT-MPs in the soil may also “severely disrupt” the photosynthetic system of Arabidopsis (also known as thale cress), a model organism for studying plant biology, genetics and pathology.

Even biopolymers that are both biomass-derived and biodegradable may not be truly sustainable when scrutinized from a life-cycle perspective due to carbon-intensive cultivation and manufacturing processes. Additives like pigments, flame retardants, lubricants and thermal stabilizers are often environmentally harmful(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) as well.

The term "biodegradable" can also be misleading as it does not necessarily mean compostable. Consider PLA, a polymer based on sugarcane or cornstarch that is used for surgical sutures. PLA production emits 68% fewer greenhouse gasses(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) compared to traditional plastic production. But PLA also takes 100 to 1,000 years(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) to decompose in a landfill — a process shortened to months only with the use of industrial composters running at high temperatures in specific conditions.

Given these problems and evidence of widespread greenwashing, the industry needs to accelerate innovation to produce truly sustainable polymer products.

Waste as a source of sustainable biopolymers

Novel biodegradable polymers derived from biomass waste(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) are emerging as more sustainable materials that promote a circular ecosystem. Experiments abound: Starch-based bioplastics derived from potato peels(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) have been found to degrade at a similar rate as paper. Pectin and cellulose from citrus peels(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) and various rinds (watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple) can be used to create a bioplastic film suitable for food packaging.

Another novel basis for sustainable bioplastic film is the single-cell protein(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) (SCP) extracted from dried biomass like algae, bacteria and fungi found in agricultural waste and industrial byproducts. This makes SCPs an attractive alternative protein source for first-generation feedstocks like soybean, milk casein, pea and cottonseed protein.

Sustainable substrates for producing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a 100% biodegradable polymer, can be derived from dairy and agro-industrial waste(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana), as well as from active sludge from wastewater treatment(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) in the food processing industry. PHB’s mechanical and thermoplastic properties are comparable with those of polypropylene (PP) and PE, making it a responsible alternative material for packaging, beverage containers, disposable utensils and coatings. As it is biocompatible, PHB is also used for medical implants and drug delivery carriers.

Biopolymer composites

While commonly used for plastics, biopolymer composites are seeing increased interest from the energy sector(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana). Their biocompatibility and biodegradability allow biopolymers to enhance the performance of other biologically active molecules in electrochemical devices. For example, a high-conducting biopolymer membrane(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) for a lithium-ion conducting battery can be made by adding lithium chloride salt to tamarind seed polysaccharide.

In general, biopolymers tend to have poorer mechanical properties than their traditional counterparts, they need to be reinforced(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) with fillers or nanofillers, which may often be fossil-based.

Attempts to make biopolymer composites more sustainable take different approaches. One method is to make the conventional additive or filler more eco-friendly by changing its source or production methods. Another is to identify bio-based alternatives that can effectively reinforce biopolymers.

Reducing the carbon footprint of fossil-based fillers

Sustainability is not simply a question of materials. Carbon emissions can also be reduced by redesigning processes and equipment, especially given the difficulty of changing entire systems or factories to produce a new material.

Some manufacturers reduce their reliance on petrochemical polymers by using them as fillers instead of as base polymers, as well as by using reclaimed materials. Algopack, a French biotech company founded in 2010, sells plastic granules based on algae blended with PP and PE(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana). Green Dot Bioplastic’s Terratek WC product line(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) comprises composites of wood fibers from lumber yard waste and reclaimed PP. These composites are used for furniture, decking, fences and children’s toys. Although PP is a non-biodegradable petrochemical polymer, using reclaimed and recycled PP has been found to reduce its carbon footprint by 42.8% compared to using virgin PP(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana).

Investigating biomass sources for effective fillers

Still, researchers are finding that biomass sources can have mechanical and thermal properties to match that of petrochemical fillers. One study found essential oils, such as those from bergamot, clove, lemongrass and rosemary, to be effective bio-based plasticizers for PLA(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana). These oils imparted antibacterial properties to PLA-based bactericidal film, which is used in horticulture. A separate study combined cellulose nanofibers (CNF) isolated from plant biomass with zinc oxide (ZnO) to create a nanocomposite for reinforcing natural rubber film(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana). The resulting composite (CNF-ZnO with natural rubber) showed a 42% improvement in tensile strength compared to regular natural rubber film.

Waste-derived biomass enhances the sustainability of filler alternatives. When researchers added biochar derived from wood and sewage sludge(se abre en una nueva pestaña/ventana) to PLA and Bioplast GS 2189, they found that the waste-derived fillers had an impact on the composites’ mechanical, thermal and optical properties. The biochar-added composites also displayed higher water absorption and rigidity. The resulting biocomposite material can be used to make compostable agricultural accessories like plant supports.