Biodegradable plastics made from carbon dioxide successfully industrialized

Polyethylene carbonate Polyurethane foam PEC-PU sample Carbon dioxide biodegradable plastics production plant

On April 10, 2003, Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Jinlong Company, a privately-owned company in Taixing City, Jiangsu Province, formally signed a technology contract for the preparation of poly carbonate and degradable foam using carbon dioxide, relying on the technology of Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences. The investment in the technology is converted by the company. In April of the same year, both parties jointly registered and registered Jiangsu Yuhua Jinlong Technology Group Jinlong Green Chemical Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. cooperates with private enterprises in Taixing, Jiangsu, and builds Jiangsu Yuhua Jinlong Technology Group Jinlong Green Chemical Co., Ltd. The purpose is to make use of the original technology of the Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the rich underground carbon dioxide resources of Jiangsu Taixing, using carbon dioxide and epoxide as the main raw materials to prepare liquid aliphatic polycarbonate resins through polymerization. Polyurethane foam-based eco-friendly products produced from this material have biodegradability and can be self-degraded when disposed as waste.

On August 14, 2004, “Use of carbon dioxide to prepare aliphatic polyethylene carbonate and degradable polyurethane foam” passed the technical appraisal organized by the State Environmental Protection Administration in Taixing, Jiangsu. Experts believe that in the carbon dioxide catalytic activation technology, high biodegradability of polyurethane foam and other aspects reached the international advanced level.

At present, a demonstration production scale of 2,000 tons/year aliphatic polycarbonate and 40 tons/year PBM catalyst has been formed, and trial production has been successfully carried out. It is expected that the sales revenue will reach 20 million yuan by the end of the year and the profits and taxes will be 5 million yuan. At the same time, the company has set up its own research center, constantly developing new products, expanding its application methods, and achieving serialization of products. During this process, it has enabled the company to grow and expand, striving to become the most characteristic and most promising carbon dioxide copolymer industrial base in China.

Green Environmental Protection Needs Comprehensive Utilization of Carbon Dioxide Resources

Natural gas hydrates have brought new hope for energy to human beings, but it also poses a serious threat to global climate, ecological environment, and even human living environment. In recent years, people have been constantly discussing the greenhouse effect of the Earth's atmosphere, and believe that the abnormal climate (global warming) and rising sea surface caused by it may be threatening human survival. The factors that dominate the atmospheric greenhouse effect are generally considered to be carbon dioxide gas, so carbon dioxide has become a subject of serious concern. Many international conferences discussed the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide and decided to limit the carbon dioxide emissions of various countries. To know that the current atmospheric carbon dioxide gas is increasing at a rate of 0.3% per year, the effects of global warming brought about by this can be imagined.

The CO2 gas field in the Huangqiao area of ​​Taixing, Jiangsu Province is the largest CO2 gas field ever discovered in China. It has abundant reserves, a total gas-bearing area of ​​52.2 square kilometers, and a geological reserve of 100 billion cubic meters. The quality is good, and the purified purity can reach 99.99%. High-capacity gas field. Many large oil fields such as Nanhai Oilfield also have associated hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide gas. If these carbon dioxide gases are directly discharged into the atmosphere, they will be disastrous. However, if we develop these carbon dioxide resources as resources and make full use of its advantages of high purity and convenient collection, it will have a good value for development and utilization.

Green environmental protection requires the use of environmentally friendly degradation packaging materials

With the widespread application of polymer materials, the problem of "white pollution" of waste plastics has become increasingly serious, and it is time to solve them. Countries, especially Western Europe, the United States, Japan, and other developed countries have explicitly banned the use of disposable foam packaging. The European Community also proposed in 1991 that all non-degradable plastic packaging be stopped until 1997. Many countermeasures that countries have taken have certain drawbacks. For example, the addition of photodegradable components in ordinary foams, but the photodegradation is not easy to complete, and small fragments remain; if the waste foam is recycled, it will take time and effort, and the recovery rate will be difficult to guarantee; Another example is the use of paper products to meet the requirements on some occasions, but the papermaking process also brings great pollution; the use of biodegradable plastic is a direction, but often the cost is too high, it is difficult to universal application. The use of carbon dioxide as a basic raw material to prepare completely degradable resin materials and foams is not only an active means of effective use of carbon dioxide, but also provides a substitute for ordinary foam plastics. The price is only 2/3 of that of similar foreign products, and its performance is excellent. It can be completely biodegraded, reducing the "white pollution" of waste plastics.

Production, study and research combined development of carbon dioxide biodegradable plastic technology

Since 1985, Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. has carried out research on condensing carbon dioxide resin and foam plastics, and has obtained a number of research results. The formation of a liquid aliphatic polycarbonate resin by adjusting the polymerization of carbon dioxide and an epoxy compound as a main raw material, and thereby preparing a degradable polyurethane foam. Copolymerization using macromolecule bimetallic complex PBM efficient catalytic technology, can freely control the molecular weight, the reaction conditions are mild, the reaction time is short, can effectively inhibit the side reactions, and ensure the quality of the resin. The innovation of this project is also the original carbon dioxide activation technology, the original CO2 copolymer preparation technology with controlled molecular weight, and the optimized copolymerization reaction process; the prepared polyurethane foam can be completely biodegraded without leaving harmful substances and has high strength. High modulus characteristics, rich carbon dioxide units, easy to achieve flame retardant. The technology has been granted a number of national invention patents.

On April 10, 2003, Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Jinlong Company, a privately-owned company in Taixing City, Jiangsu Province, formally signed the "Consumption of Polycarbonate and Degradable Foam Using Carbon Dioxide" technology contract, relying on the technology of Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( A share of 18% (plus 700,000 yuan for technical disclosure fees) was invested by the company for 25 million yuan, and 80 acres of land was acquired for the conversion of the technology. In April of the same year, both parties jointly registered and registered Jiangsu Yuhua Jinlong Technology Group Jinlong Green Chemical Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. cooperates with private enterprises in Taixing, Jiangsu, and builds Jiangsu Yuhua Jinlong Technology Group Jinlong Green Chemical Co., Ltd. The use of abundant underground carbon dioxide resources in Jiangsu Taixing produces aliphatic polyethylene carbonate materials. The polyurethane foam-based environmentally friendly products produced using this material have biodegradability and can be self-degraded when disposed as waste. At present, a demonstration production scale of 2,000 tons/year aliphatic polycarbonate and 40 tons/year PBM catalyst has been formed, and trial production has been successfully carried out. The produced PBM catalyst has higher catalytic efficiency, and the aliphatic polycarbonate polyol resin has a molecular weight of 2000-8000, a carbon dioxide fraction of more than 0.3, and a cyclic carbonate content of 8-12%. The polyurethane foams prepared by the Chinese Academy of Ordinary Science determined that the aerobic biodegradation rate was 32.7% for 30 days, and the requirement for aerobic degradation greater than 20% over the 45 days of the national standard. It was a biodegradable foam.

Polyurethane foams are generally based on polyether resins and polyester resins and are generally not biodegradable. Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. polyurethane foam is based on aliphatic polycarbonate, with biodegradable, full degradation without leaving harmful substances; high strength, high modulus, the strength of the same density than general-purpose polyurethane foam; can be used without pollution or Low-pollution foaming process; rich in carbon dioxide units, the combustion heat is significantly lower than other polymers, easy to achieve flame-retardant advantages.

On August 14, 2004, “Use of carbon dioxide to prepare aliphatic polyethylene carbonate and degradable polyurethane foam” passed the technical appraisal organized by the State Environmental Protection Administration in Taixing, Jiangsu. Experts believe that in the carbon dioxide catalytic activation technology, high biodegradability of polyurethane foam and other aspects reached the international advanced level.

Carbon dioxide-made biodegradable plastic technology creates good economic and social significance

Currently widely used foams are mainly polystyrene and polyurethane foams. The world's production of these non-degradable materials has exceeded 10 million tons. Our output will also reach one million tons and will continue to grow. Polyurethane foam is also used in furniture, transportation, clothing, refrigerators, petrochemical pipelines, construction and other industries. Many home appliances in China have the highest production volume in the world, and their export volume has grown rapidly. However, they are seriously hampered by the “green barriers” in the West. Therefore, China has placed special demands on biodegradable packaging materials.

With the rapid development of the national economy, the export volume of domestic home appliances and other enterprises has increased dramatically. Because the performance of packaging materials has failed to meet the requirements of relevant international laws and regulations, “green barriers” are gradually becoming a major obstacle to the expansion of domestic manufacturing exports. According to incomplete statistics, China's annual exports of products affected by the “green barriers” amount to more than US$20 billion. The use of paper products instead of expanded polystyrene also has problems with low strength, poor water and moisture resistance, and papermaking process contamination. The resin and its degradable foam produced by the company are waterproof and moisture-proof, with adjustable performance and less waste water in the production process, which is the best way to overcome “green barriers”.

Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd., based on the accumulation of long-term research and development of carbon dioxide resin and foam polymer, the preparation of degradable materials also have a good appearance, excellent physical and mechanical properties, rich raw materials, low prices, a clear direction of application and a broad market prospects Under such conditions, new degradable polyurethane foams will have great market demand and economic prospects. At the same time, after the success of this project will form China's carbon dioxide resin demonstration industry base, forming a complete industrial system shows great social benefits. Taixing City has a carbon dioxide gas field and other raw materials with a gas-bearing area of ​​50.4 square kilometers, a gas purity of more than 99%, and a reserve of 100 billion m3. The use of carbon dioxide resources for the preparation of polyethylene carbonate and degradable polyurethane foams accelerates economic development under the premise of environmental protection. The use of greenhouse gases as resources provides multiple meanings for the low-cost and high-performance degradation materials. It also promotes local economic development. Its production will be environmentally friendly, with low energy consumption and almost no waste. After the scale production, relying on technological innovation, we can occupy the market in advance and produce huge benefits.

By gradually providing the market with polyethylene carbonate (PEC) or polypropylene carbonate (PPC) products, as well as degradable foam products, the society will gradually recognize and accept environmentally-friendly carbon dioxide products and accelerate the speed of new products entering the market. To lay the foundation for greater development in the future.

Adhere to the organic integration of technology, capital, and market, and the effective integration of scientific research units and enterprises to achieve successful transformation of scientific research results

In response to the lack of continuity in the previous cooperation projects and the lack of cooperation, the Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has actively promoted the establishment of long-term cooperation with enterprises. Firstly, by co-constructing research rooms and technical centers, the company will become a company's R&D institution and technical support to improve the company's ability to continuously innovate; secondly, it will send long-term researchers to provide technical guidance for companies and companies. The cooperation has risen to the cooperation of talents and further consolidated the relationship of cooperation; finally through the optimized combination of intangible assets (patented technology) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. and the tangible assets of private enterprises, it has become an organic whole, making Guanghua and the company mutually dependent. Develop together.

Jinlong has excellent production equipment and strong technical force. At the same time, scientific research experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. continue to provide advanced technical support. The company set up its own research center, continuously develop new products, expand its application methods, and realize product serialization. During this process, it has enabled the company to grow and expand, striving to become China's most characteristic and promising carbon dioxide copolymer industrial base. After the completion of the first phase of the project, an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons will be formed. It is estimated that the sales income will be 20 million yuan, and the profits and taxes will be 5 million yuan.