Producing bio-oil, common materials from waste products

The team of scientists, led by Professor Thomas Maschmeyer, from the University of Sydney, Australia, have partnered with the Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia, to: find ways to sustainable to produce: plastics, foams, paints and other common materials , this is the result of the project (in 4 years, at a cost of about 10 million dollars), producing goods Regeneration from processes (using catalytic agents higher than the amount of reactants) is currently being implemented at the University of Sydney, Australia.

The project is based on the current research of Professor Maschmeyer: refining (this process requires high temperature and pressure water treatment) bio-oil from sustainable raw materials, including seaweed sea ​​and forestry waste products. This project will also help find new (sustainable) ways to create other popular products (in addition to bio-oil).

"The bio-oil refining process is called advanced hydrothermal process (HTU), which involves taking biofuel and heating it in water to obtain: bio-oil (spontaneously extracted), gas quantity. arises and chemicals dissolve in water, " explained Professor Maschmeyer.

"These gases and water-soluble chemicals, can be used in a variety of applications: making polyethylene and propene (often found in plastic and plastic furniture), as well. such as creating materials (called aromatics) are ingredients in: plastics, foams, rubber, coatings, oil paints and solvents, " according to Professor Maschmeyer.

"The purpose of the study at the University of Sydney, Australia, is to build the NCRIS biofuel reactor, make use of the waste from the wood processing and processing industry," said Professor Brian Haynes.

Phase 2 of the project will be carried out by the Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia, focusing on enzymatic routing (biological catalysts based on protein). towards renewable chemicals as well as on gases generated during advanced hydrothermal processes (HTU).

"In the future, seagrasses and algae will become a source of raw materials for sustainable production methods. They grow in the offshore, in the sea, with a more competitive advantage. (compared to land-based cultivation, as well as no use of fresh water) " , Professor Maschmeyer predicts.

This project received a $ 5 million grant from the Science and Industrial Donation Fund (SIEF), along with $ 5 million (in-kind sponsorship) from the Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organization ( CSIRO), Australia. In addition, the project received support from key industrial groups such as Lyondell-Basell, Dow Australia, Visy, Amcor and Ignite Energy, as well as from the Department of Natural Resources, Energy, and Tourism. calendar; Faculty of Science and Technology Research Improvement; These agencies all have representatives on the project advisory board.