Difference between revisions of "Polymerisation"

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Revision as of 13:23, 14 February 2022

Technology

Technology details
Name:	Polymerisation
Category:	Conversion (Chemical processes and technologies)
Feedstock:	Single molecules, monomers
Product:	Polymers (polyolefins, polycondensates)

Polymerisation (polymerization in American English) is the process of reaction smaller molecules, i.e. monomers, together into a chain or network, i.e. a polymer. There are many forms of polymerisation reactions. A common distinction is between homopolymers, where one type of monomer forms the polymer, and co-polymers, where multiple different monomers make up the polymer. A well-known application of polymers is in plastics. However, polymerisations can also lead to smaller chains, known as oligomers, which are for example used as plasticisers and lubricants.

Feedstock

Origin and composition

Several bio-based feedstock options have been explored for the production of bio-based polymers. Lignin can be depolymerised and the obtained products can be used as monomers. Ethanol from fermentations can be processed to produce ethylene, a common feedstock for polymerisations. Fatty acids can be used in long-chain linear aliphatic polymers. Other biomass feedstock includes CO₂, terpenes, and furfural.^[1]

Pre-treatment

The pre-treatment of the feedstock for polymerisation is depending on the specific process and feedstock used. In principal, the feedstock is converted to a building block like ethylene, propylene, styrene or others in a first step and then polymerised in a catalytic process. High purity of the feedstock is crucial for successful polymerisation reactions, which are highly susceptible to pollutants, often leading to lower polymerisation grades or smaller polymerisation chains.

Process and technologies

An example of alkene polymerization, in which each styrene monomer's double bond reforms as a single bond plus a bond to another styrene monomer. The product is polystyrene.

There has been signifcant effort to produce polymers from biomass rest streams. The key challenge lies in producing materials that have comparable or improved properties to their fossil-based counterparts. The right processing, which is often neglected by chemists, plays a crucial role in enhancing the material properties.^[1] The specific technologies are depending on the types of polymer, but normally do not differ from conventional polymerisation processes in case of drop-in polymers like bio-based PE, PP, PET and others.

Two main routes to PLA

Product

Three critical processes to obtain sustainable bio-based polymers are the conversion of lignin monomers to polymers, the production of bio-based polyolefins, for example from ethylene via the ethanol route, and the production of long-chain aliphatic polycondensates, which can be obtained from fatty acids.^[1]

Post-treatment

Normally the resulting polymers are compounded to plastics with different kinds of additives like plasticizers or others or post-processed to reach their aimed properties. In case of plastics the material normally is melted and extruded to pellets for the further processing.

Technology providers

**Technology comparison**
Company name	Country	Technology category	Technology name	TRL	Capacity [kg/h]	Feedstock: Food waste	Feedstock: Garden & park waste

Company 1	[Country HQ location]	[Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]	●	●
Company 2	[Country HQ location]	[(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]	●	●

Petron Scientech Inc.

Vertimass

Polymerisation provider
General information
Company:	Vertimass
Country:	USA
Contact:
Webpage:	https://www.vertimass.com/
Technology and process details
Technology name:	CADO (Consolidated alcohol dehydration and oligomerization)	Technology category:	Conversion (Chemical processes and technologies)
TRL:	9	Capacity:	kg·h^-1
Catalyst:		Residence time:	min
Temperature:	°C	Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:	'Wet' ethanol	Product:	Jet fuel, biodiesel

Open access pilot and demo facility providers

Pilots4U Database

Patents

Currently no patents have been identified.

References

↑ ^a ^b ^c Zhongkai Wang, Mitra S. Ganewatta, Chuanbing Tang, 2020-02-01: Sustainable polymers from biomass: Bridging chemistry with materials and processing. Progress in Polymer Science, Vol. 101, 101197. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2019.101197

[:0-1] Zhongkai Wang, Mitra S. Ganewatta, Chuanbing Tang, 2020-02-01: Sustainable polymers from biomass: Bridging chemistry with materials and processing. Progress in Polymer Science, Vol. 101, 101197. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2019.101197

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 There has been signifcant effort to produce polymers from biomass rest streams. The key challenge lies in producing materials that have comparable or improved properties to their fossil-based counterparts. The right processing, which is often neglected by chemists, plays a crucial role in enhancing the material properties.<ref name=":0" /> The specific technologies are depending on the types of polymer, but normally do not differ from conventional polymerisation processes in case of drop-in polymers like bio-based PE, PP, PET and others.
-:[[File:PLA from lactic acid & lactide.png|300px|Two main routes to PLA]]
+:[[File:PLA from lactic acid & lactide.png|thumb|center|300px|Two main routes to PLA]]
 ==Product==