Agriculturally derived polymers and composites targeted toward a circular economy.

William Orts USDA

December 11, 2019

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Albany, California ~400 people~50 in Biofuels/& Bioproducts

Known for crop biotech.

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Commercial Product

End of Life

Plastics Collection

Recycling

Plastic Resin (Pre-product)

Commercial Product

End of Life

Plastics Collection

Recycling

Plastic Resin (Pre-product)

Petrochemical Feedstocks

Blue Bin Pick-up

Recycling Downcycling

Commercial Product

End of Life

Plastics Collection

Recycling

Plastic Resin (Pre-product)

Recycling Composting

Biomass-Derived

Feedstocks

Brown Bin Pick-up?

We need consistency in waste handling infrastructure

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Adding value to agricultural products. • Optimizing use of waste streams & surplus byproducts.

Biodegradability. Compostability.• Reduce litter. Prevent microplastics. Divert waste from landfills.

Regulatory. • Prevent negative health/environmental impacts. Eg. Banning

microbeads. Ocean Plastics! The USDA’s BioPreferred Program.

Recycling and Landfill Diversion. • Re-using carbons. Closing the circular economy.

Greenhouse gas reduction.Making the best product at a good price

Drivers toward sustainable plastics

9Bor-Sen Chiou

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Densifies the biomassRemoves moisture and volatiles

Torrefaction

200°C 300°C

Pyrolysis

400°C 900°C 1000°C

Biomass

Gasification

Processing Temperature

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Torrefied Almond Shells

60 min 80 min 100 min

230oC

260oC

290oC

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Torrefied Biomass-Polymer Composites

Can we reverse downcycling?

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151

127

135 135

115

120

125

130

135

140

145

150

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Virgin PP Post consumer PP(PC-PP)

10% TorrefiedWalnut Shells in PC-

PP

20% TorrefiedWalnut Shells in PC-

PP

HDT

(C)

Particle size = 700 – 1000 microns

It works best on recycled plastic

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The heat stability of plastics is improved by adding shells Temperature at which material deforms under specific load

“Clean” Material Recovery Facilities Downcycling

Mike Centers

Our Feedstock

Commercial Product

End of Life

Plastics Collection

Recycling

Plastic Resin (Pre-product)

Biomass-Derived

Feedstocks

Recycling Composting

Brown Bin Pick-up?

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PHA Bioplastics: PolyHydroxyAlkanoatesBacterially-produced polyester providing a wide range of properties

THERMAL PROPERTIES

thermoplastics

50 100 150 200-60

-40

-20

0

20

melting point Tm (ºC)

glas

s tra

nsiti

on te

mpe

ratu

re T

g (ºC

)

hot melt adhesives

coatings

PHAs

pressure sensitive adhesives

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• PHA = bacterial “fat”

• PHA is produced when excess carbon is present and/or when a key nutrient is limiting

Daniel et al (1992)

Balanced growth conditions

Carbon excess and/or nutrient deficiency; PHA granules begin to form

PHA from Biogas

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Methane (biogas)

Microbial process

Biopolymer

Products

Waste facility

26http://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2011/11/trends_in_crude_oil_and_natura.html

Natural Gas vs Oil Prices

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Poly(lactic acid):

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Lactide Stereoisomers

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D-lactyl monomer L-lactyl monomer Ref: Manuel Natal, Natureworks, LLC

HDT = 97o C

HDT = 98o C

HDT 35-95oC Meso Blocks

HDT = 135oC D,L – stereo complexes

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PLA Additives

U.S. Patent 2008/ 0207840 Additives to thermal stability….and flexibility

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Stereoisomer Additives

Lennard TorresAli Flynn

Double Branch

Triple Branch

Quad Branch

Torres, L., et al. (2016) Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 133 (1), art. no. 42858,

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

25 45 65 85 105 125 145 165 185

Dim

ensi

on C

hang

e (µ

m)

Temperature (oC)

100L95L-05M95L-05D95L-05T95L-05Q

Poly(lactic acid): Heat Deflection

Torres, L., et al. (2016) Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 133 (1), art. no. 42858,

Control

Triple -Arm1-, 2-, 4-Arm

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Partnerships: Single use items

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Lightweight Degradable Plastics

Lower Cost

Beat Solid Plastics on Price by up to 40%

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• Development of sustainable plastics will vary depending on your drivers.

• Recycled plastics are downcycled but provide a tremendous resource opportunity.

• Viable bioplastic options are here.

• This may not be simple….

Summary….

Commercial Product

End of Life

Plastics Collection

Recycling

Plastic Resin (Pre-product)

Recycling vs Composting?

Can they co-exist? Infrastructure? Who decides?

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"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. “ -- Ronald Reagan, 1986

…….our visit to Illinois, especially this morning at the State fair, was to bring a special message to America's farmers, one of concern and hope. Amid general prosperity that has brought record employment, rising incomes, and the lowest inflation in more than 20 years, some sectors of our farm economy are hurting, and their anguish is a concern to all Americans.

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Acknowledgements

Researchers: Plastics Team

De WoodBor-Sen ChiouZach McCaffreyMark WechslerLennard TorresAllison FlynnTrung CaoArtur KlamczynskiGreg GlennWilliam Orts

USDA

Bill.Orts@USDA.GOV

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William Orts 510-559-5730bill.orts@ars.usda.gov

4212/14/2010

http://www.biopreferred.gov/

The BioPreferred program gives venders a significant advantage in filling federal contractors. This can be HUGE when filling military contracts, etc.

Biobased content measured by the ratio of C-14 to C-12 (ASTM D6866)

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• USDA brand name for Biobased Markets Program established in Farm Bill

• Identifies and seeks to establish new markets for biobased products

• Two major program elements– Federal procurement preference program

requires Federal agencies and contractors to purchase qualifying products

– Voluntary labeling program will allow product vendors to use a USDA logo to identify qualifying products

What is BioPreferred?

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Federal purchasers must give a procurement preference to designated items composed of biobased products.

4612/14/2010