Validation of an industrial process to manufacture isosorbide bis (methyl carbonate) at pilot level
Channel: TECNALIA
Date: 2021-05-27

The scarcity of #FossilResources and the corresponding environmental concerns makes that modern societies must find new safe and sustainable processes to manufacture #Molecules and #Materials already well established in the worldwide market. For these reasons Europe has decided to face a change towards more sustainable productive models. On this framework and during the last years a wide range of valuable chemicals have been produced from #Biomass resources.

The VIPRISCAR project is focused on the production of isorbide bis(methyl carbonate); The IBMC. It cames from isosorbide, which in turn is obtained from glucose and starch, and potentially from cellulose. IBMC is a non-toxic and biodegradable versatile #Bioproduct that competes with relevant petroleum products. It can replace the bisphenol-A in polycarbonates, and diisocyanates in polyurethanes; providing safer and less toxic products. VIPRISCAR has validated a process to the production of IBMC in a relevant industrial environment

We have developed a very robust process for manufacturing isosorbide bis methyl carbonate. We have used isosorbide of different acid qualities, specific basic catalysts, and dimethyl carbonate that is used both as a solvent, as a reactant. We have obtained purities of product ranging from 90 to 99 per cent. Laboratory results have been transferred for pilot scaling and a pilot plant for IBMC production has been designed and constructed. A protocol has been optimized for this process and more than 100kg of this monomer has been produced. The results of the pilot runs have given us many insights that are important for modelling and upscaling the process further towards industrial scale.
VIPRISCAR demonstrates the usefulness of the polymers derived thereof in two high-volume market sectors: Industrial coatings and hot-melt adhesives. As coatings that do not use the toxic bisphenol A in polycarbonates that are used in polyurethane dispersions. In the coating sector new free isocyanates polyurethanes with applications in automotive and furniture sectors have been validated.

The project has explored new applications for IBMC in coatings. Our goal has been to develop and design polyurethane intermediates and oligocarbonates for polyurethane dispersions to be used in performance and sustainable coatings. In the adhesive sector new polycarbonates have been obtained for hotmelt adhesives. As well as free isocyanate adhesives in aqueous microemulsion, for polyurethane dispersions.

VIPRISCAR contributes to implement a new society model non-petroleum based. This innovative initiative will boost #Bioeconomy in key sectors.

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