FAIR-CT98-9588 Bio-liquid mixtures for solvent and/or detergent applications

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Bulk Chemicals : Detergents : FAIR Area 1.2 - Green Chemicals and Polymers Chain : Vegetable Oil/Fat

	Type of Project	Cooperative Research
	Contract No	FAIR-S2-9088
	Total Cost	343,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	164,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/12/1998
	Duration	24 Months

Bio-liquid mixtures for solvent and/or detergent applications

Objectives

Solvents and detergents are important in a number of industries. Currently, these compounds are mainly of fossil origin. Fossil solvents face a number of drawbacks, for example, that intensive (professional) contact causes health problems and the supply is expected to be depleted within 50 years. Furthermore, the biodegradability of several fossil solvents and detergents is poor.

The industrial objectives of this project are to create substitutes for fossil solvents and detergents from biological origin. The bio liquids we intend to use are mainly bio ethanol, terpenes, vegetable oils, fatty acid methyl esters, as well as derivatives of related compounds as modifiers. By mixing these bio liquids, substitutes for the fossil solvents will be created. As the properties of mixtures are usually not proportionally related to the properties of the starting materials, insight in the effects of mixing on the bio solvent properties is a very important research topic within the project. A mathematical model will be developed to allow easy optimisation of mixtures for different applications. The mixtures specifically have to meet the criteria established by the SMEs involved in paint production, offset printing ink and detergent production that are participating in the project. Application of bio solvent mixtures in other solvent using industries will be promoted. The economic objectives are firstly concerning the market price of the substitute(s) that should not be much higher than the fossil products they will have to replace. At this moment fossil solvents are cheap and replacement by biosolvents on pure price will be difficult. As many governments start to use taxes to stimulate the use of renewable sources it is expected that the economics for bio solvents are improving in the near future. Improvement of the 'green' image of a company can also make a higher price acceptable. A second economic effect is the improved economical perspectives in the agricultural sector, by creating new outlets for their products. The know-how is expected a valuable export product when fossil solvents start to run out. The social objectives are especially concerned with the health conditions of workers in the paint, offset printing ink and detergent factories, and of those using these products (paints, detergents). Another social objective is to improve the social coherence in the rural areas of Europe by creating jobs in the production, transformation, handling and distribution of the new products.

The technical objectives are to find satisfying mixtures of bio liquids, that fulfil the criteria established by the SMEs and that fit in the price ranges acceptable for these SMEs. To this purpose mathematical models will be used to predict the characteristics of the mixtures obtained. The proposed approach is to complete the inventory on existing problems with 'biosolvents' and 'biodetergents'. In a collective effort of all partners detailed criteria will be established, which should be met by the final bio liquid mixtures. Mathematical models will be compiled, which can predict good compositions of mixtures, required for all applications. These mixtures will be prepared in small quantities, and all relevant characteristics will be determined by measurements. In case no discrepancies are found between the predicted characteristics and the empirically determined values, the mixtures will be prepared in a larger amount and will be tested on location of each partner. It is anticipated that after two series of tests, the developed solvent mixtures will fulfil the most important criteria.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Patrick LECLERC / Procedes de Nettoyage Rationnel (PNR)` FRANCE

Participant

• Piet DE MEER / ATF Recycling b.v. NETHERLANDS
• Jorgen ERIKSEN / Aarhus Oliefabrik A/S M.P. Bruunsgade 27 / DENMARK
• Theodorus Maria KOOMEN / Erven Th. Koomen B.V. NETHERLANDS
• Graphic Printing Chemicals Limited UNITED KINGDOM
• Johan VAN DAELE / W. Lippens N.V. BELGIUM

RTD Performer

• ATO Agrotechnological Research Institute / NETHERLANDS
• Pieter VAN BROEKHUIZEN / Chemiewinkel Universiteit van Amsterdam / NETHERLANDS
• Eva WALLSTROM / ENPRO ApS DENMARK