Environment-friendly Polycarbonates from limonene and CO2

18-Jul-17

Scientists have developed eco-friendly plastics using lemon extracts and carbon dioxide. Researchers led by Arjan Kleij from Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) in Spain, developed a method to produce polycarbonates from limonene and CO2, both abundant and natural products. Limonene will replace Bisphenol-A (also known as BPA). "Our approach replaces it with limonene, which can be isolated from lemons and oranges, giving us a much greener, more sustainable alternative," he said.

The researchers not only succeeded in producing a more environment-friendly polymer, but they also managed to improve its thermal properties. This limonene-derived polymer has the highest glass transition temperature ever reported for a polycarbonate. Having a high glass transition temperature has other implications - the new plastics require higher temperatures to melt, which make them safer for everyday use. Moreover, this new polymer can also offer a myriad of new applications for polycarbonates and block copolymers using appropriate material formulations.