Polyols and Polyurethanes from Crude Algal Oil

Abstract

The composition of crude algal oil was analyzed and determined by several methods. Oil was converted to polyols by ozonolysis, epoxidation, and hydroformylation. Ozonolysis gave a polyol with lighter color but a low OH number and was unsuitable for polyurethane applications. Epoxidation also improved the color and gave a polyol with an OH number around 150 mg KOH/g, which with diphenylmethane diisocyanate gave a homogeneous, rubbery, transparent sheet. Desirable rigid foams were prepared with the addition of water to the formulation. Hydroformylation was carried out successfully giving an OH number of about 150 mg KOH/g, but the polyol was black. Casting the polyurethane sheet was difficult due to the very high reactivity of the polyol. Polyurethane foam of lower quality than from epoxidation polyol was obtained. More work on optimization of the foaming system would improve the foam. Crude algal oil is a viable starting material for the production of polyols. Better results would be obtained from refined algal oils.

Eco-friendly polyurethane coatings from cottonseed and karanja oil

“…by greener biobased materials [1][2][3]. Petroleum prices are increasing every day, hence there is need to substitute petroleum based raw materials by biobased materials like vegetable oils [4,5].…”

“…Most of oil based polymeric resins have been employed as polyols for polyurethanes (PU), which is a group of polymers attracting attention of researchers and industrialist due to their excellent property profile and tailor made properties [18,19]. PU shows versatile and excellent physical, chemical and mechanical properties, which has increased their demand in various fields such as foam, elastomers, adhesive, ink, paints, and coatings applications [3,20]. Applications of PU in the coating industry are due to their excellent scratch resistance, stiffness, chemical, and corrosion resistances, low temperature flexibility, and a wide range of mechanical strength [21,22].…”

Renewable Source Based Non‐biodegradable Polyurethane Coatings from Polyesteramide Prepared in One‐Pot Using Oleic Acid

“…This is due to concerns related to an ecofriendly environment, a low carbon footprint, irregular and dwindling petroleum sources [1]. Bio-based materials such as cellulose, natural fibers, starch, polysaccharides, vegetables oils and proteins have received great attention in the development of green monomers and polymers [2,3]. Vegetable oils are much cheaper and more easily available for the synthesis of polymeric materials that directly or indirectly help industries as well as farmers.…”

Selective esterification to produce microalgal biodiesel and enrich polyunsaturated fatty acid using zeolite as a catalyst

“…In addition, PUFAs in general are promising precursors for producing biodegradable and nontoxic biopolymer building blocks via epoxidation. Fatty acid based epoxides and polyols are important starting materials for making polyurethanes and epoxy resins with similar characteristics to petrochemical polyurethanes, and have been produced from crude algal oils 11 . The efficiency of these epoxides is directly related to the amount of epoxy groups per molecule, expressed with an oxirane number.…”