Published July 2012
Using carbon dioxide as a feedstock instead of conventional petroleum-derived raw materials is an attractive scenario to produce polymers. Developing processes and products that are "sustainable" and have reduced "carbon footprint" have been important goals. CO2 is abundant, renewable, and inexpensive. During the last several years, the polymer industry has been exploring renewable feedstocks such as CO2 for producing polymers.
Development in carbon dioxide-based polymers has been in the production of polycarbonates. Aliphatic polycarbonates can be directly produced by reacting epoxides with carbon dioxide. In addition, aromatic polycarbonates based on bisphenol A (BPA) can be produced by reacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide to produce an intermediate. CO2-based polymers containing up to 50% carbon dioxide are produced. This report examines the production of CO2-based polymers, specifically poly(propylene carbonate), poly(propylene carbonate) polyol, and BPA polycarbonate. This report will be of value to those companies engaged in the production of CO2-based polymers and the conventional petroleum-derived feedstock-based polymers.
