Battelle’s Process for Converting Coal to High-Value Polyurethane Products
Established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only S&T (science and technology) awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies, and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license. The R&D 100 Awards, celebrating the program's 60th Anniversary this year, has long been a benchmark of excellence for industry sectors as diverse as telecommunications, high-energy physics, software, manufacturing, and biotechnology. This 2022 R&D 100 winner is listed below, along with its respective category.
Category: Process/Prototyping
Developers: Battelle Memorial Institute
United States
Product Description:Battelle’s coal-to-polyurethane (PU) process uses a breakthrough, ozonation-based technology to convert coal-derived liquids from coke ovens or solvent-based coal liquefaction technologies, along with biomass-derived feedstocks, into polyols used for making high-value PU products such as rigid foams. The aromaticity of coal contributes to greater rigidity in foam products.
Developers: Battelle Memorial Institute
United States
Product Description:Battelle’s coal-to-polyurethane (PU) process uses a breakthrough, ozonation-based technology to convert coal-derived liquids from coke ovens or solvent-based coal liquefaction technologies, along with biomass-derived feedstocks, into polyols used for making high-value PU products such as rigid foams. The aromaticity of coal contributes to greater rigidity in foam products.
Insert C_PU Foams from Standard Polyol (Left) vs. Coal-Derived Polyol (Right)--High Res