The catalyst viewed through an electron microscope. The tiny iron spheres (dark areas) measure only about 20 nm in diameter. Gas generated from biomass is converted into substances currently produced from petroleum. |
It
is now possible to produce plastics without the use of petroleum,
thanks to a new type of catalyst enabling efficient conversion to key
components of various products including plastics, medicines and paint.
The catalyst, which consists of tiny iron spheres, was developed by
chemists at University Utrecht, whose research featured in the Feb. 17 issue of Science. According to Prof Krijn
de Jong, “The products are exactly the same, only they are made of
pruning waste instead of petroleum.” The invention has already sparked
the interest of the chemical industry.
Almost
all chemical products, ranging from anti-freeze and pharmaceuticals to
plastics and paint, are currently made of petroleum. However, the
technology enabling the fabrication of products of the same quality
largely from biomass has existed for some time. “Until recently, there
were too many steps involved in the process, so the technology was not
efficient or economical enough to be used on a large scale,” says
University Utrecht professor Krijn de Jong.
New type of bioplastic
It
is now possible to produce components that can be used to make plastics
and other substances by means of a one-step process, once the biomass
has been converted at a high temperature into gas. The new catalyst was
developed by Utrecht chemists in cooperation with Dow Benelux and Delft
University of Technology. According to De Jong, “The industry will be
able to utilise this technology to make bioplastics, biopaints and even
biopharmaceuticals. The properties of these products are the same,
despite the fact that the raw material was biomass instead of petroleum:
the bioplastics are totally identical to regular plastics.”
Tiny iron spheres
The
petroleum-free products are made using a recently developed catalyst
consisting of iron nanoparticles measuring 0.00002 mm. The tiny
particles were produced and stabilised by Utrecht PhD student Hirsa
Torres, by affixing them to a special material, thereby making the
catalyst more durable, and an efficient means for converting biogas into
useful substances.
Interesting technology for industry
The
Utrecht researchers will continue to develop the catalyst with the help
of Dow Benelux. Hopefully, the first products made with this technology
will be launched within the next few years. “In light of the imminent
oil shortage, using sustainable raw materials is an extremely attractive
option for industry,” says De Jong. “One major advantage of the method
is that the raw materials are sustainable, but do not compete with the
food supply, because they consist of wood-like biomass, such as
branches, plant stalks and pruning waste.”
Supported iron nanoparticles as catalysts for sustainable production of lower olefins
