By-products of bioenergy production generate recyclable material for industry

Collaborative research between the Brazilian company Plasmacro and the Canadian company Casco Inc. studies innovative processes for recycling waste from biodiesel production in the electrical equipment industry and others

With financing obtained through the agreement signed between FAPESP and International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada, Inc. (ISTP Canada) in 2009, the companies Plasmacro, with head offices in São Carlos, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, and Casco Inc. Products of Canada are studying innovative processes for using by-products from the production of biodiesel.

Some results of the project currently underway were presented and discussed before an audience of Brazilian and Canadian researchers in attendance at the first symposium of FAPESP Week 2012 held in Toronto, Canada October 17. An additional three symposiums will be held during the event in North America that runs through October 24: at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, MA, October 22; at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, October 23; and at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, October 24.

The goals of the project supported by the binational agreement are to develop processes to recover bioenergy waste, use the unrefined glycerol as a plasticizer in the paper industry, and obtain thermoplastic starch compounds with recycled PVC for injection molding for electrical parts as well as bioplastics for the manufacture of disposable food containers.

According to Carlos Correa of Plasmacro, biodiesel production, which has grown from 404 thousand cubic meters in 2007 to 2.7 million cubic meters in 2011, has expanded the prospects of using glycerol in industry. In addition to traditional applications in medicines, fabric softeners, and the manufacture of nitroglycerin, there are potential new uses such as the production of animal feed, polypropylene for plastics, antifreeze additives for use in automotive radiators and other additives.

Along with the goals of its Brazilian partner, Casco Inc. would like to develop a technology to obtain bio-modified starch. According to Andre Leclerc, the company is attempting to develop a new market niche in biotechnology to diversify its production. For this, Casco would like to obtain compounds with ideal proportions of by-products from biodiesel and other components in final products that look good, are homogenous, moisture and deformation resistant, and physically stable at a competitive final cost.

Another challenge for the project is to increase the use of unrefined glycerol in PVC compounds and other thermoplastics as much as possible. Current global installed capacity for PVC production stands at around 47.5 million metric tons per year and is expected to grow to 59.1 million metric tons by 2020, according to Carlos Correa. He goes on to say “Only Braskem is producing over a million tons of PVC resin per year in Brazil, and the construction industry currently uses 75% of the country’s total PVC production. This rate is growing given the number of large incentives currently available in Brazil.” Among the applications are many of the electrical devices required under new Brazilian industry regulations.