abstract
Biomass residues are a potential renewable source for the sustainable production of chemicals, materials, fuels, and energy embodying the so-called biorefinery concept. In this context, agro-forestry and agro-food industry by-products have attracted considerable interest of researchers in academia and industry as a renewable source of polymeric materials. The research developed to date on the valorization of biomass residues by converting them into polyols through oxypropylation is the subject of this review. These bio-based polyols exhibit properties similar to their petrochemical counterparts and, as such, can be used with economical advantage in the production of polyurethanes. The operating conditions of the oxypropylation reaction depend on the biomass and on the desired polyol properties. The discussion of their influence and the economic viability of the process are also presented.
keywords
SELF-REINFORCED COMPOSITES; SUGAR-BEET PULP; ENSUING POLYOLS; RENEWABLE RESOURCES; STARCH GRANULES; POTATO STARCH; POLYURETHANES; URETHANES; CORK; OPTIMIZATION
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics
authors
Aniceto, JPS; Portugal, I; Silva, CM
our authors
Carlos Manuel Silva
Associate Professor
Inês Portugal
Assistant Professor
José P. S. Aniceto
Junior Researcheracknowledgements
J.P.S.A. acknowledges the financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology-FCT Project No 11435 (QREN).