Biorenewables and waste valorisation towards lubricant additives

添加剂行业在很大程度上依赖于化石燃料衍生的化学品，如异丁烯和异戊二烯，用于大规模生产润滑剂、粘度调节剂和其他添加剂。本研究旨在解决对原油衍生化学品的依赖，通过废物增值或生物可再生能源寻找可持续来源的单体，为添加剂行业生产聚合物。建议的解决方案和方法为了实现这个项目的目标，研究将从探索废物和生物可再生能源的来源开始。重要的是要强调，本研究中感兴趣的材料不应与食品生产竞争。它们应允许负责任的消费和生产，不应损害陆地上的生命，例如避免与棕榈油生产有关的问题。这些目标符合联合国可持续发展目标，特别是目标2（零饥饿）、目标12（负责任的消费和生产）和目标15（陆地生命）。本研究将考虑多种方法将废料转化为添加剂工业的单体和聚合物。这些将包括生物转化，例如，利用酶、细菌或真菌。众所周知，许多生物转化在温和的条件下发生，这增加了这项研究的绿色证书。此外，本研究将探讨利用催化促进废物转化为感兴趣的化合物。当考虑金属催化时，富土金属催化剂由于其相对于稀土金属的低成本和高丰度而备受关注。除了这些提出的方法，这项研究将寻求纳入其他绿色化学过程，如使用超临界二氧化碳作为更环保的溶剂。这应该有助于避免或尽量减少使用更传统的挥发性有机化合物。

The additive industry relies heavily on fossil fuel derived chemicals such as isobutylene and isoprene for the large-scale manufacturing of lubricants, viscosity modifiers and other additives. This research aims to address the reliance on crude oil derived chemicals by looking at sustainably sourced monomers through waste valorisation or bio renewables to produce polymers for the additive industry. Proposed solution and methodologyIn order to achieve the aim of this project, the research will begin by exploring sources of waste and bio-renewables. It is important to highlight that the materials of interest in this research should not compete with food production. They should allow responsible consumption and production and should not detriment life on land, avoiding for example, problems associated with palm oil production. These aims align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals 2 (zero hunger), 12 (responsible consumption and production) and 15 (life on land).This research will consider a variety of approaches to converting waste materials into monomers and polymers for the additive industry. These will include bioconversions, for example, using enzymes, bacteria or fungi. Many bioconversions are known to take place under mild conditions, which adds to the green credentials of this research.Additionally, this research will investigate the use of catalysis to facilitate the conversions of waste materials into compounds of interest. When considering metal catalysis, earth abundant metal catalysts will be of prime interest due to their lower cost and higher abundance compared to rarer earth metals.In addition to these proposed methodologies, this research will look to incorporate other green chemical processes, such as the use of supercritical CO2 as a greener solvent. This should help to avoid or minimise the use of more traditional volatile organic compounds.