TH Köln researchers work to produce biopolymer intermediates from linoleic acid
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.