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Validation of an industrial process to manufacture isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate) at pilot level

Project description

Manufacturing polymers with a green alternative

Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic petroleum-based monomer, is widely used in industry to manufacture polymers that can be used as coatings, adhesives, and polycarbonate plastics. To overcome the deficiencies related to this material, the EU-funded VIPRISCAR project aims to develop and validate efficient production processes using a bio-based and safe alternative to BPA named isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate) (IBMC). As proof of principle, the project will also create several IBMC prototypes for use in manufacturing industrial coatings, adhesives, and biomedical catheters. The use of IBMC in polymer manufacturing will improve the health and environmental safety of polymer products.

Objective

The use of isosorbide (IS), a still a low market volume bio-based chemical but with a high Cumulative Annual Growing Rate of 10.9%, in the manufacturing of intermediate building blocks and high volume polymers, such as polycarbonates, has some drawbacks that could be overcome by using isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate) (IBMC), a barely explored IS secondary building block which is proposed to enhance IS value chain. VIPRISCAR main objectives are: 1) To validate at pilot scale in an industrially relevant environment (TRL 5) a sustainable IBMC production process from IS; 2) To show a proof of principle for the added value IBMC brings to the market by demonstrating the usefulness of polymers derived thereof in three high-volume market sectors: industrial coatings, hot-melt adhesives, and biomedicine (antithrombotic-antimicrobial catheters).
Results expected are: 1) A validated highly-efficient IBMC production process (TRL 5) able to be up-scaled and produce, under suitable market conditions, IBMC at a similar price to that of current oil-based monomers used in polycarbonates and polyurethanes; 2) at least 1 IBMC-derived coating for automotive and furniture; 3) at least 1 IBMC-derived hot-melt adhesive; 4) 1 antithrombotic-antimicrobial IBMC-derived catheter. Exploitation encompasses patent licensing, collaborative research for further development to high TRLs and direct production-commercialization (industrial partners).
The 3-years project is divided in 4 phases consisting of 8 WPs: 1) IBMC manufacturing process improvement to move from the current TRL of 3 (TEC granted patent) to 4 (WP2); 2) IBMC up-scaling to TRL 5 (WP3); 3) Proof of principle of IBMC applications (WP4-Coatings, WP5-Adhesives, WP6-Catheters); 4) Horizontal issues: Management (WP1); techno-economic analysis, LCA, REACH, health-safety, barriers and standards (WP7); market analysis, business models-financial impacts, IPR and exploitation, risk management, communication and dissemination strategy (WP8).

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Coordinator

FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Net EU contribution
€ 1 068 699,78
Address
PARQUE CIENTIFICO Y TECNOLOGICO DE BIZKAIA, ASTONDO BIDEA, EDIFICIO 700
48160 DERIO BIZKAIA
Spain

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Region
Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 149 137,50

Participants (9)