VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed an environmentally sound and economical method for producing furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from plant sugars for the production of drinking bottles, paints and industrial resins, for example. This technology enables production of plant-based products.
The main production material of drinking bottles is still oil-based PET although there has been news on alternatives based on renewable materials during the last few years. VTT's new method provides a new route for the packaging and beverage industries to expand the use of renewable materials in their production.
VTT has patented the method for producing furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), the monomer for PEF polymers, from sugar or sugar waste. Thanks to the solid acid catalyst and biobased solvent with short reaction time, the method provides a considerable reduction of toxic waste compared to traditional methods.
The method can be scaled-up to industrial purposes without substantial investments, and it has already raised a lot of interest in industry.
The R&D work has been funded by VTT and Tekes,
###
VTT will present the method in its "Green Plastics without the bio-premium" webinar on 27thSeptember, 2017: http://makingoftomorrow.com/green-plastics-without-the-bio-premium/
Further information:
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
David Thomas, Senior Scientist brp>tel. +358 40 7361561, [email protected]
Further information on VTT:
Milka Lahnalammi-Vesivalo
Communications Manager
+358 40 5457 828
[email protected]
http://www.vtt.fi
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is the leading research and technology company in the Nordic countries. We use our research and knowledge to provide expert services for our domestic and international customers and partners, and for both private and public sectors. We use 4,000,000 hours of brainpower a year to develop new technological solutions. VTT in social media: Twitter @VTTFinland, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Periscope.
Media Contact
David Thomas
[email protected]
358-407-361-561
@VTTFinland
http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en
############
Story Source: Materials provided by Scienmag
