News
05-02-2021
Biorizon consortium creates bio-MPA-based alkyd coating that exceeds fossil counterpart in terms of performance, sustainability and resource efficiency
Biorizon’s Bio-Aromatics4Coatings (BA4C) consortium succeeded to develop bio-MPA-based alkyd coatings that exceed fossil PA-based coatings in terms of performance, sustainability and resource efficiency. Bio-MPA is expected to be produced at a price in the same order of magnitude as fossil PA. After the successful demonstration of bio-MPA at kg-scale, the consortium will further scale-up bio-MPA production and its application in coatings to (sub)industrial scale.
Key ingredients in coatings
Aromatic building blocks such as phthalic anhydride (PA) are key ingredients in coatings. They provide properties such as UV resistance and hardness. Today, aromatics are produced almost exclusively from fossil raw materials. Moreover, in some coatings, such as alkyd coatings, aromatic di-acids were the only ingredient for which there was no sustainable alternative available. This alternative now becomes available in the form of bio-aromatics, produced via Biorizon platform technology, opening the way towards fully biobased alkyd coatings.
Bio-Aromatics4Coatings (BA4C) project
In the Bio-Aromatics4Coatings (BA4C) project the consortium partners have successfully developed, assessed and demonstrated the production and application of biobased 3-methylphthalic anhydride (bio-MPA) in alkyd coatings at kg-scale, as renewable alternative for fossil-based phthalic anhydride (PA). Project partners are Biorizon co-initiator TNO, Worlée, Baril Coatings, SoliQz, Van Loon Chemical Innovations and BioDetection Systems. This project was co-financed by the 'Topsector Energiesubsidie' of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Significant impact
The goal of Bio-Aromatics4Coatings was to further develop the conversion technology for bio-MPA and subsequently demonstrate the applicability of bio-MPA in alkyd coatings as a replacement of petrochemical PA (phthalic anhydride). Successful demonstration promotes implementation of bio-MPA and bio-aromatics in general and thereby significant impact can be realized, as shown in the figure below.
Improved performance, sustainability and resource efficiency
In application these first-of-a-kind bio-MPA-based coatings showed:
- Improved performance as compared to fossil PA-based coatings;
- A 3 kg CO2 emission reduction per kg fossil PA replaced, as revealed by life cycle analysis in the BA4C project;
- A reduction in required solvent for formulation of alkyd coatings is foreseen, due to bio-MPA’s physical properties, bringing additional economic and environmental benefits.
Favorable economic perspective
A techno-economic model, that was established in BA4C, revealed that bio-MPA can be produced at a price in the same order of magnitude as fossil PA. Towards the commercial introduction of bio-MPA, this model additionally provides direction to further optimize the economics and sustainability of the first bio-MPA production plant. Already within BA4C, the basis was laid for efficient purification technology, which has the potential to further increase the sustainability of bio-MPA purification with more than 50% reduction in energy and solvent utilization in the short term.
Favorable toxicological profile
Using dedicated human cell-based CALUX in vitro assays, it has been shown that bio-MPA has a toxicological profile that is comparable to fossil PA in all tested formulations: as monomer, resin and alkyd coating.
Scale-up production
The successful development and demonstration at kg-scale of bio-MPA as techno-economically feasible and safe renewable alternative for fossil PA as ingredient in alkyd coatings, has enthusiastically encouraged the consortium to further scale-up bio-MPA production and application in coatings to (sub)industrial scale in a follow-up project.
Call for participation & more Information
Project coordinator and Biorizon co-initiator TNO is looking for companies that are willing to cooperate in consortia like these, in order to jointly create new biobased coatings and enable the commercialization of new bio-aromatics that are required for this. For more information, please contact Biorizon's Sugar Horizon Manager Monique Wekking at monique.wekking@tno.nl or +31 (0)6 46 84 73 58 and join our community.
See also:
Sugar Horizon
In Horizon II, Biorizon co-initiator TNO uses expert knowledge on furan chemistry and Diels-Alder technology for the development of functionalized renewable bio-aromatics. Di-acids and tri-acids like phthalic acid and hemimellitic acid with novel functionalities can be used directly in a final application, have high economic value, and can be readily obtained from biomass without losing much of their intrinsic functionality. Local residual feedstock is used, which contributes to the efficient and responsible use of resources in industries where recycling is difficult or even impossible.
Process
Local residual feedstock, such as sludge, manure and agro-residue, which is rich in carbohydrates (C5-sugars), is converted into furfural. Furfural serves as intermediate for the route to renewable bio-aromatics. Via the versatile Diels-Alder technology platform, aromatics of choice can be obtained from furfural. By using various starting materials, a portfolio of >50 different renewable aromatics can be obtained for applications such as lubricants, polymers, adhesives, coatings and plastics.
Current focus
The focus of Horizon II has been twofold: technology is developed to convert residual biomass streams into furans, and the Diels-Alder chemistry platform is developed for various functional aromatics. At present, the production of three novel specialty circular aromatics, 3-methylphthalic anhydride (3MPA), hemi-mellitic acid (HMA) and 3-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (3MHHPA), is most advanced and available at the multikilogram scale. We gladly offer companies the opportunity to conduct application testing to evaluate the properties of these highly functionalized renewable aromatics. Promising applications for these novel renewable aromatics are in adhesives, polymers, coatings and lubricants, respectively.
More information
If you share our ambition and want to collaborate with our Shared Research Center, please join our community, visit the Biorizon headquarters at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom (NL) or reach out to our business development managers.
New Project: Bio-Aromatics4Coatings
Biorizon co-initiator TNO develops technology to convert furans into functional bio-aromatics. Recently the Bio-Aromatics4Coatings project started with a focus on coating application. Project coordinator TNO is collaborating with several key companies in the coatings supply chain to evaluate bio-MPA.
Community
Biorizon aims to be the reliable source for information on functionalized biobased aromatics and to provide excellent networking opportunities.
For partners and companies that want to consider joining our Shared Research Center we've created a community where you can find relevant information concerning functionalized biobased aromatics.
For whom?
Global leaders as well as SME's in the fields of feedstock, conversion, equipment, intermediate and end products are invited to join Biorizon's Community.
Benefits
By joining the Biorizon Community you get exclusive access to current knowledge and developments in the field of functionalized biobased aromatics.
- Exclusive access to our online Biorizon Community Library with current market analyses & event reports.
- Exclusive access to Member Only Events, specifically dedicated to functionalized biobased aromatics.
- Exclusive subscription to the Biorizon Community newsletter.
- Exclusive access to our Biorizon Community members only LinkedIn group.
- The (optional) opportunity to include your company logo in the Biorizon Community Member Section.
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