Non-food, Biobased, Drop-in Replacement for Fossil Fuel based Polyols

Project SummarySpandex sneakers car seats all contain 50-70% polyols. Today these polyols are made offshore fromfossil fuels. This USDA Phase II SBIR project will develop novel technology to make commerciallycompetitive polyols domestically from non-food biomass. The technical objectives are distributed benignextraction of hemicelluloses from almond shells efficient conversion of hemicelluloses totetrahydrofuran and green polymerization of tetrahydrofuran to polyols. This streamlined value chainwill enable cost competitive biobased polyols to disrupt a $4B pa market. Farmers will receive additionalrevenue and consumers will receive low carbon intensity product choices.The cost of hemicellulose greatly depends on the costs of biomass collection and on valorization of theresidual biomass. Phase II will develop technology for a portable biomass fractionation system that canbe co-located at almond shelling facilities to extract hemicelluloses and return a value added residue.SUNY ESF will collaborate on research and a leading biomass fractionation expert will guidedevelopment at TRGel. Available technology to convert hemicelluloses to tetrahydrofuran has highcapital and operating costs. Phase II will enable competitive conversion costs by integrating compactprocessing with a robust chemical pathway. Leading chemical process and biomass conversion expertswill guide TRGel's process development. Current tetrahydrofuran polymerization technology requiresinputs and generates wastes that can be avoided. Phase I demonstrated small batch tetrahydrofuranpolymerization with a recyclable catalyst and minimal waste. Phase II will advance this catalyst for largescale continuous polymerization by leveraging TRGel's polymer and materials expertise.Thistechnology value chain will enable competitive domestic non-food biobased drop-in replacements forfossil fuel based polyols.