PET with PEFRecently, a balance study of energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) was conducted over the manufacturing of the bioplastic polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) initiating from fructose based on corn. The purpose of the study was to examine and interpret investigational data regarding the dehydration via catalysis of fructose to an imitation model, utilizing the ASPEN Plusmodeling software. The imitation model produced mass and energy balances were utilized as input for carrying out process chain analysis and weigh against the petrochemical equivalent polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Typically, PEF production can be categorized into 3 parts:
  • Manufacturing  fructose using corn starch,
  • Converting fructose into Furanics and following revival and improvements; and
  • Oxidizing FDCA and polymerizing ethylene glycol (EG) into PEF.
Producing PEF from fructose can be broken down into 6 steps:
  1. Producing corn starch using the Corn Wet Milling (CWM) process,
  2. Converting corn starch into fructose as well as HFCS,
  3. Converting fructose and HFCS into Furanics,
  4. Reviving and improving the Furanics into HMF and its ethers,
  5. Oxidizing HMF and its ethers into FDCA,
  6. Polymerizing FDCA along with EG into PEF.

Converting into Furanics

Fructose and HFCS are mixed with a catalyst and a solvent consisting of water and methanol Both fructose and HFCS are blended along with a catalyst as well as a solvent that comprises methanol and water. This mixture is poured into a Furanics reactor at soaring temperatures (200 to 220°C).

Revival and Improvement

This section has about eight columns for distillation. Here, the pressure is gradually reduced to ease the revival of light-end products. The first five are dedicated towards reviving light-end ones, whereas, the rest of the three are used to upgrade and revive HMF and its ethers, and La and its ethers. The humins created during the conversion process settle at the bottom of the last distillation column – thanks to their extreme boiling point.

CHP

The CHP unit consists of a boiler operating at atmospheric conditions and a steam cycle. The CHP unit has a boiler that works at surrounding conditions as well as a steam cycle. The steam cycle comprises:
  • Steam generator for recovering heat,
  • Condenser,
  • Water pump, and
  • Three steam turbines.
On various grounds, it has been proved that PEF is a way better solution than PET. Often termed as the ‘next generation’ polyester, here are some key reasons why PEF is more energy-efficient than PET:

Superior Performance

PEF is known to serve as a better O2 barrier, with 10 times greater improvement than PET. Moreover, it has twice more powerful water barrier and 4 times more potent carbon dioxide barrier.

Thermal Stability

PEF has remarkable thermal stability than PET. Tg: ~88°C is approximately 12°C greater than PET.

Mechanical Properties

PEF also has amazing mechanical properties. The tensile modulus of PEF is equivalent to 1.6* PET.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

PEF has reduced carbon footprint relative to PET. It produces up to 70% reduced emissions of carbon and 65% reduced NREU. Given the current and future trends, more and more chemical companies are exploring the benefits of FDCA and FDME for manufacturing PEF plastic. We have been consistently investing in bio-based polymer manufacturing to create a sustainable future. Browse through our products to find Fullerene C60, Methylpentanoic acid, Pregnenolone Steroid Hormones etc. To place orders, call +1 (909)345 0760-31 now.