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Agriculturally derived polymers and composites targeted toward a circular economy. William Orts USDA December 11, 2019
Agriculturally derived polymers and composites targeted toward a circular economy.
William Orts USDA
December 11, 2019
2
Albany, California ~400 people~50 in Biofuels/& Bioproducts
Known for crop biotech.
3
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
8
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?
13
151
127
135 135
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
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
14
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?
22
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
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.
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