SRI Consulting Publishes New Polymers from Biomass Report
Biopolymers Poised for Growth
MENLO
PARK, CA. February 27, 2008 — The growth of the biodiesel industry has had an interesting effect: more polymers from biomass. This is helping move modern manufacturing closer to using more sustainable materials to produce plastics and other manufactured materials. Today, SRI Consulting (SRIC) published its new report Polymers from Biomass, which profiles the production of polymers from biomass and observes the future prospects of new materials moving into the polymers market.
There are many ways to obtain biopolymers as well as standbys such as polyethylene. For example, polyethylene is being produced from sugar cane via fermentation to ethanol which can be dehydrated to ethylene. The burgeoning production of biodiesel has yielded large amounts of the by-product glycerin, much of which is looking for a market. One of these markets is converting glycerin into epichlorohydrin which is used to manufacture epoxy resins.
Bob Davenport, Director of SRIC’s Safe & Sustainable Chemicals series and author of the report commented, “Biomass derived polymers that are biodegradable include polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). These bio-derived polymers are not new, but only recently have seen markets develop into commercial volumes.”
Readers of SRIC’s Polymers from Biomass report will learn that not all biopolymers are biodegradable. The report examines various monomers and co-monomers that can be produced from biomass, polymers derived directly from biomass, and cellulosic polymers as well as monomers formerly produced from petrochemicals that can be produced from biomass sources. Like petroleum derived products, bio-derived polymers can be used as fibers, films, or engineering resins.
Russell Heinen, Vice President at SRIC commented, “Many factors are driving the use of biomass-derived polymers. These include sustainability, domestic sourcing of raw materials that are annually reproduced, using materials and processes that are low on greenhouse gas emissions, and employing local farms and labor.”
In manufacturing, biopolymers must perform economically and efficiently in their applications. Whereas ethanol based ethylene only faces the economical hurdle, many of the new polymers also face performance standards in their developing markets.
For additional information about the Polymers from Biomass report, please contact Bob Davenport at rdavenport@sriconsulting.com or +1-650-384-4350. Please visit the website at www.sriconsulting.com for SRI Consulting’s complete listing of reports.
About SRI Consulting (SRIC)
SRI Consulting is the world’s leading business research service for the global chemical industry. Publishing for almost 60 years, SRI Consulting is the preeminent source for in-depth business and process analysis. This report was developed by SRI Consulting’s Safe & Sustainable Chemicals group, which provides in-depth, independent technical and business advisories for the chemical and energy industries. SRI Consulting's headquarters are located in Menlo Park, California with offices in The Woodlands, Texas; Zürich, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; and Beijing, China. SRI Consulting is a division of Access Intelligence, LLC. Additional information is available at www.sriconsulting.com.
SRI Consulting (SRIC) is a trade name and a registered trademark of SRI International, used under license.
|
