Objective The principal objective of the project is to generate a range of novel biosustainable polyols from starch for use as alternative intermediates to the conventional petrochemically derived materials in the production of advanced specialty polymers for use by a range of European chemical industries.Such an approach possesses environmental, economic, energy conservation and/or technological benefits over conventional approaches. A subsidiary aim of the project is to develop the science and technology of the above objective to facilitate a complete unified chain from the grower (EU farmer) via the processor (EU chemical industry) to the end user (EU or worldwide consumer). One further aim is to ensure efficient use of all agricultural raw material with insufficient quality for food consumption, which would otherwise be discarded having no current route for recycling.The proposal comprises identification of sources of starch and accessing starch, chemical processing of starch (including chemical and enzymatic catalysis) to yield the polyol building blocks, scaling up of the aforementioned process, synthesis and evaluation of advanced polymers from the derived polyols and evaluation (assessment) of the potential of these polymers in various industrial applications (at least 4 industrial outlets).More specifically, starch will be converted by hydrogenolysis on solid catalysts into C2-C6 polyols which will be used as feedstock for the synthesis of polyesters, alkyd resins, emulsion polymers and polyurethanes used in surface coatings (decorative paints and powder coatings), polyurethane foams and polyester structural materials.The partners responsible for each activity are recognised experts in their field and span major chemical companies, an SME and research institutes across Northern and Southern Europe. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencespolyurethaneengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis Programme(s) FP4-FAIR - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development), 1994-1998 Topic(s) 1.2.2 - Processing of raw materials Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator DEGUSSA A.G. EU contribution No data Address Rodenbacher chaussee 4 - p.o. box 1345 63403 Hanau Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all C.N.R.S. - SECTEUR RHÔNE France EU contribution No data Address Av. albert einstein, 2 69626 Villeurbanne See on map Total cost No data INTERCHEM-HELLAS S.A. Greece EU contribution No data Address Syngrou avenue, 232 176 72 Athens See on map Total cost No data Imperial Chemical Industries plc (ICI) United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Wexham road SL2 5DS Slough See on map Total cost No data