TH Köln researchers work to produce biopolymer intermediates from linoleic acid

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Type of post: NEWS.

Researchers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the TH Köln/University of Applied Sciences have developed a process for using linoleic acid  as a new source for biobased polymer intermediates. Those intermediates have a very good chance of being implemented in the chemical industry in the medium term.
Press release: “Linolsäure aus pflanzlichen Ölen als neue Quelle für biobasierte Polymerintermediate”, 19/8/2019.

Figure 1. Project team of LinoPol (from left to right): Valentin Gala Marti, Anna Coenen, Jan Drönner, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schörken, Prof. Dr. Matthias Eisenacherm (Image: Michael Bause / TH Köln)

The Linopol project

This research is being carried out within the framework of the Linopol project which has been funded with 530 k€ by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to contribute to the creation of more environmentally friendly processes in the chemical industry.

Aim
The project is focused in transforming fatty acids (like the linoleic acid) into new bifunctional polymer intermediates with use in the manufacturing of high-performance polyamides and polyesters. The goal is to develop a combined biotechnological-chemocatalytic process that will provide new access to the industrially important intermediates. In addition, the synthesis produces aroma substances that can be used for perfumes. The linoleic acid can be obtained from local vegetable oils (like sunflower oil or thistle oil) by hydrolysis and distillation. The team intends to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly syntheses that comply with the twelve principles of green chemistry.

The team
A doctoral candidate and two doctoral students work together at the Faculty of Applied Sciences in Leverkusen. Anna Coenen and Valentin Gala Marti research in the group of Prof. Dr. Schörken new biotechnological synthesis routes. The project team is completed by Jan Drönner, who works in the group of Prof. Dr. Matthias Eisenacher dealing with the development of chemocatalytic syntheses. The project aims to establish a long-term oriented, interdisciplinary research in the fields of biotechnology and green chemistry.

Industrial Advisory Board
Dr. Oliver Thum (Research Manager of "Functional Solutions" of Evonik Performance Materials GmbH) and Dr. Ing. Henrike Brundiek (Research Director of Enzymicals AG) brings her expertise to the project as members of an Industrial Advisory Board. Evonik is one of the world's leading manufacturers of polyamide intermediates and biobased polyamides. Enzymicals offers recognized expertise in the application of enzymatic processes for the synthesis of complex chemicals down to industrial scale.

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