The development of functional polymers from unsaturated oils and fats

来自可再生资源的材料可以取代传统上由石化产品生产的材料，从而降低化石燃料消耗和总体温室气体排放。国家计划，如美国BioPreferred计划，旨在“增加生物基产品的购买和使用”，这些产品“来自植物和其他可再生农业，海洋和林业材料”。因此，消费者越来越容易选择具有经验证的生物基成分的产品，并且对工业使用生物基材料有经济激励。** 我的研究小组，阿尔伯塔大学脂质化学小组，正在开发生物基化学品和材料，这些化学品和材料主要来自加拿大大草原上种植的油籽作物。最近，我们提交了6项专利申请，涉及从菜籽油和其他当地植物油中制备和增强生物基多元醇和环氧树脂。其中一项技术现已授权给一家加拿大公司，该公司目前在不列颠哥伦比亚省经营一家多元醇工厂。基于该产品和我们的配方，一家阿尔伯塔公司将组装一个混合设施，用于生产菜籽油基聚氨酯（PU）泡沫建筑保温材料。然而，成功地结合到硬质PU喷雾泡沫材料中的生物基多元醇的设计对于其他PU应用可能不是最佳的。实际上，市场上有许多类型的石化多元醇，其涵盖广泛的分子尺寸和官能度。因此，我们正在开发油脂化学转化的策略，以促进从几乎完全是三酰甘油酯的油脂制备各种化学衍生物和多元醇。** 在本发现提案中，我们将探索生物基多元醇衍生物的制备以及用于聚合物和树脂的多功能配方。例如，它们将能够同时交联成聚合物基质并提供附加的阻燃性、光敏性、生物降解性或抗微生物活性。该研究的一个相关目的是开发可用于非异氰酸酯PU的脂质衍生物，以克服PU生产中对有毒二异氰酸酯的需求。** 总的来说，这些发现研究将用于进一步加深我们对创建多功能脂质基聚合物所需的结构-功能关系、反应条件和分析方法的基本理解。这些原理验证演示对于为有行业参与的应用研究项目获得进一步资金至关重要。

Materials derived from renewable resources can replace those traditionally produced from petrochemicals, leading to lower fossil fuel consumption and overall greenhouse gas emissions. National programs like the US BioPreferred program aim “to increase the purchase and use of biobased products” which are “derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials.” Consequently, it is becoming easier for consumers to choose products with verified biobased compositions and there is an economic incentive for industries to use biobased materials. ******My research group, the University of Alberta Lipid Chemistry Group, is developing biobased chemicals and materials that are largely derived from oilseed crops grown on the Canadian prairies. Recently, we have submitted 6 patent applications relating to aspects of making and reinforcing biobased polyols and epoxy resins from canola and other local plant oils. One technology is now licensed to a Canadian company who now operate a polyol plant in B.C. Based on this product, and our formulations, an Alberta company will assemble a blending facility for the production of canola-based polyurethane (PU) foam building insulation. However, the design of biobased polyol successfully incorporated into rigid PU spray-foam materials may not be optimal for other PU applications. Indeed there are many types of petrochemical polyols on the market that cover a wide range of molecular size and functionality. Hence, we are developing strategies for oleochemical transformations that facilitate the preparation of a wide range of chemical derivatives and polyols from oils that are almost exclusively triacylglycerides. ******In this Discovery proposal we will explore the preparation of biobased polyol derivatives and formulations that are multifunctional when used in polymers and resins. For example, they would be able to simultaneously crosslink into a polymer matrix and provide added fire retardancy, photosensitivity, biodegradeability or anti-microbial activity. A related aim of the research is to develop lipid derivatives that can be used in non-isocyanate PU to overcome the need for toxic diisocyanates in PU production. ******Overall, these Discovery studies will be used to further our basic understanding of the structure-function relationships, reaction conditions and analytical methodology needed to create multi-functional lipid-based polymers. These proof-of-principle demonstrations are critical to obtain further funding for applied research projects with industry participation.