New sustainable raw materials for polymers production

<p>J C M Bordado</p>

New sustainable raw materials for polymers production

J C M Bordado

IST, Portugal

: J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol

Abstract

Over 90% of all Polymeric Materials now in production use petrochemical raw materials. It is well known that in the future, renewable and sustainable raw materials wil be mandatory, for a large number of reasons. Amongst the different primary sources of raw materials for Polymeric Materials, wood appears to be a very interesting one since the forests are the more efficient and natural alternative for Carbon Dioxide capture, with consequent carbon fixation. A new process of Wood Liquefaction, by simultaneous catalytic depolymerization of Lignin and celluloses, in liquid phase and atmospheric pressure was developed, with one overall yield around 94% on a dry wood basis. The obtained “liquid Wood” after extraction with water to remove the soluble oligosacharides, proved to be one excellent starting material for adhesives and reactive polymers. A short review of other alternative sources of sustainale raw materials is presented.