posted on 2020-08-13, 14:42authored byZoriana Demchuk, Na Wu, Ghasideh Pourhashem, Andriy Voronov
Improving the sustainability of polymeric
materials through integrating
biobased components while maintaining their functionality can be challenging.
Using plant oils for the synthesis of biobased acrylic monomers can
potentially provide an opportunity for improving the environmental
performance of the polymeric materials. In this study, we use life
cycle assessment (LCA) methods as a guide, early in the design of
the vinyl monomers from soybean oil, to evaluate and improve their
environmental performance. We use LCA to pinpoint hotspots along with
the process steps and identify greener choices in the process design.
The process modifications performed in this study, including reactant/soy-based
material loading ratio, alternative catalyst and feedstock, and solvent
recycling, resulted in enhanced yield and better environmental performance
of the monomers compared to the original synthesis design. Among the
modifications tested, adding a solvent recycling step in the synthetic
process demonstrated the most significant improvement in the environmental
performance in all tested impact categories. Compared to the conventional
fossil-based acrylic counterpart (stearyl acrylate), the monomers
from soybean oil show better environmental performance in 8 out of
10 of tested categories within the TRACI II method. Given the ability
of new monomers in being employed in a wide range of applications,
this study demonstrates their capacity for improving the sustainability
of the polymeric materials at large scale and therefore the polymer
industry.