Heat Integrated Reactive Distillation for Synthesis of Bio-based Plasticizers, Solvents and Coatings

The global market for bio-based chemicals is at a critical stage of development. With the focus shifting to development of new bio-based routes to chemicals, new synthesis processes with low capital costs (CAPEX) and high energy efficiency need to be developed that will truly compete with their petroleum derived counterparts. For the market to reach its full potential, techno-economic, health, and environmental challenges must be overcome. Organic acid esters, produced from bio-based organic acids and alcohols, are truly bio-renewable, "green" chemicals that are promising replacements for petroleum-based solvents, lubricants, and plasticizers. There is a window of opportunity currently available for the development of energy efficient and low CAPEX processes for synthesis of bio-based alternate plasticizers and coatings to replace petroleum-based phthalates. Phthalates, the current petroleum-based plasticizer, are increasingly being phased out because of their toxicological properties and environmental persistence. Succinic acid produced by non-food biomass, is an emerging platform for value-added specialty chemicals.The governing objective of this SBIR Phase I project is to develop Heat Integrated Reactive Distillation (HIRD) using side reactors for synthesis of succinic acid based alternate bio-based plasticizers, solvents and coatings and to quantify the techno-economic merits over the current commercial process in terms of CAPEX and energy consumption (C-Footprint).This Phase-I proposal focuses on USDA priorities for developing innovative technologies for bio-based chemical production. The project involves collaboration between E3Tec and Michigan State University (MSU), with support from the research institute MBI International, to develop high efficiency, integrated processes which overcome the complexities of chemical reactions and difficult separations encountered in synthesis of bio-based chemicals.The major benefits that will arise from this project are: a) enhanced U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing of bio-based chemicals; and b) process intensification and energy efficiency for manufacturing of bio-based chemicals.