18. Oct 2016
Fraunhofer presents new environmentally-friendly way to produce polyamides at K 2016
Fraunhofer researchers have developed a process for the manufacturing of high-quality plastics from terpenes, a waste stream of the cellulose production. They will present their new bioplastic and its possible applications at the K 2016 trade fair in Düsseldorf this week, in Hall 7, Booth SC01.
The synthesis of polyamides from terpenes was developed at BioCat – Bio, Electro and Chemocataysis, the Straubing branch of Fraunhofer IGB. BioCat, which is headed by Professor Volker Sieber, has researched techniques for converting terpenes – a side stream of the cellulose production from wood – into biosurfactants, biobased epoxides or monomers for biobased polyamides with new properties.
“Because of the special chemical structure of terpenes, polyamides from 3-carene based lactams are highly transparent,” explained project manager Dr. Harald Strittmatter. He added that it opened the door for new applications, like ski goggles or helmet visors. Coatings, textiles and adhesives may all be produced on the basis of the biobased polyamides.
Why are the Fraunhofer researchers working with terpenes?
“It’s a renewable resource that is generated in large quantities as a side stream of the pulp production as well as in the fruit industry. As a waste stream the application of terpenes for the production of new bio-plastics is in no conflict with the need of food production for humans and animals,” explainsedDr. Strittmatter.
Currently, large amounts of terpenes are incinerated for the energy supply of the pulp mills. Because of the complex structure of the terpenes, a much higher value application is desirable.
”Similar compounds are only accessible from fossil resources with great effort,” Dr. Strittmatter says.
The structure of terpenes enables polyamides with special characteristics, such as high transparency, to be developed. To produce polyamide, the terpenes are modified via an oxidation step, during which a so- called carbonyl group is introduced, which can be converted into a lactam, which is a monomer building block for polyamides. The benefits of the process: The synthetic route for the production of terpene-based lactams is shorter and – even more important – combines bio- and chemocatalytic reaction steps, eliminating the need for harmful reagents.
Currently, the process is at the laboratory stage. The next step is to develop a synthetic route which will enable production in the future on an industrial scale.
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