AIMPLAS to Develop Low-carbon Coating Ingredients from CO₂ & Citrus Waste

TAGS:  Sustainability / Natural Coatings    

AIMPLAS promotes the development of new sustainable and efficient materials for the construction industry obtained from carbon dioxide (CO₂). The materials are generated by industries in the Valencian Community and waste produced by the citrus sector.

Also participating in the project are the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ, UPV-CSIC), Zuvamesa, Lamberti Iberia and Laurentia Technologies. Zuvamesa specializes in producing citrus juice. Lamberti Iberia is a producer of chemical products. Laurentia Technologies specializes in the synthesis and manufacture of nanomaterials.

Formulating Raw Materials Utilizing CO₂ & Waste

The aim of the project is to contribute new, sustainable formulations using CO₂ and waste from the citrus industry in Valencia to make materials for the construction industry.

The research project has received economic funding from the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI) and the European Union within the framework of the Valencian Community ERDF Programme for the 2021-2027 period.

The aim of the BUILD-LIMONENE initiative is to develop new additives and biodegradable materials with a lower carbon footprint. This can be used in the construction industry and become viable alternatives to the materials currently available in the market. Some of the most in-demand applications are sustainable polymers, additives and coatings.

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The new technology will contribute to the recovery of waste from different industrial sectors that all play an important role in the Valencian Community, such as food waste, especially citrus waste. BUILD-LIMONENE will make it possible to use citrus peels and generated CO₂ emissions and apply them in the construction industry.

Sustainable Alternatives to Raw Materials of Fossil Origin

The project presents an additional advantage over traditional markets of additives and coatings for construction materials. Currently, most materials are obtained from raw materials of fossil origin and there are practically no sustainable alternatives.

Based on this goal, the processes of producing polycarbonates and polyurethanes based on or synthesized from CO₂ are being studied to open a new field of innovation. This promotes the development of new construction materials with fewer negative effects.

The project is currently in the experimentation stage. The catalytic reaction of limonene oxide and CO₂ is being optimized so that polycarbonates with specific characteristics can be obtained. It has also been possible to identify the different varieties of oranges and mandarins with the highest limonene content. Limonene is a natural chemical substance. It can be extracted from citrus peels and is a fundamental ingredient in these formulations.

Within the framework of this project, AIMPLAS is working on studying and optimizing the processes necessary for combining limonene oxide with CO₂ to obtain sustainable polymers. Zuvamesa is in charge of the first step in the chain, the extraction of purified limonene from different Valencia oranges.

Source: AIMPLAS