From the kitchen sponge to the car seat, modern life is everywhere. Now, researchers at Washington State University have found a way to replace certain fossil fuel -dependent materials with an unexpected alternative: pine trees.
Breakthrough is a critical moment at the global global polyurethane market of $ 75 billion, because manufacturers seek sustainable alternatives of oil -based products, these products may take hundreds of years to decompose.
Basis of nature
ZHANG, a professor at the School of Chemistry Engineering and Biological Engineering of WSU, explained: “As far as the materials and processes we generate, this is very novel.” “New renewable components” “” “”
The research team successfully replaced 20 % of traditional petrochemical substances, and while maintaining the strength and flexibility of the foam, it was alternative to its plant source. Results were published in ACS sustainable chemistry and engineering.
Decompose science
The key to innovation is lignin, and lignin is the second rich renewable carbon source on the earth. Lyrin accounts for about 30 % of non -fossil fuel carbon, but it is difficult to extract in history without pollution or degeneration. Most lignin is eventually burned for low -value products such as fuel or for cement additives.
Zhang pointed out: “If you use oil -based plastics, this is basically a victory.” “The final solution is to replace them with natural materials.”
A cleaner process
Researchers have developed an environmentally friendly solvent process to extract high -quality lignin from pine. Their method retains the natural characteristics of the material, which produces a key characteristic of a homogeneous product with good thermal stability-production of high-value materials.
After testing, biological bubbles are equivalent to conventional polyurethane foam in terms of mechanical properties and stability. This shows that it may be used in commercial applications from furniture pads to packaging materials.
From laboratory to living room
The time arrangement may be perfect for this innovation. As the plastic recovery rate has always maintained below 20 % and the regenerative plastic of inferior products is often produced, manufacturers are actively seeking sustainable alternatives.
This research has attracted the attention of the industry. Zhang’s team is now working with industrial partners to optimize and expand its production of polyurethane bubble -based polyurethane foam.
Look forward to the future
Although 20 % of oil -based materials seem to be moderate, it represents an important step towards more sustainable consumer products. With the improvement of the manufacturing process, this percentage may increase, and it may change how we wrapped from packaging to the daily items of furniture.
This study was supported by the industry of the National Science Foundation-university bioplastics and bio-composite materials, and the support of the National Food and Agricultural Planning Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and the WSU Commercial Office.
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