Researchers at Florida State University have developed a method of converting a-pinene, sourced from forestry biomass, into an isomeric form that renders it suitable for polymerization. The resulting material is predicted to have ballistic, barrier, and mechano-responsive properties. This presents a cheap and new plastic material based on a feedstock that is available on an industrial scale. The conversion method utilizes commercially available catalyst systems and can be performed at scale.
Applications
Replacement for commonly used petroleum-based plastics, including:
- Bottles
- Shopping bags
- Fishing nets
- Straws
- Multi-pack beverage rings
Advantages
- Presents a significant advancement over a- and ß-pinene polymers in terms of ease of manufacture
- Can be harvested sustainably through tapping or through forestry by-products
- Resistant to ill-effects brought on by contamination
- Has similar desirable properties when compared to commercially available petroleum-based plastics
News article: https://news.fsu.edu/news/2021/07/27/fsu-researchers-discover-pine-sap-based-plastic-a-potential-change-for-future-of-sustainable-materials/
Research Article: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00284
