Issue 01/2017

Automotive Materials
The ABT plant has been operating since 2012 with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year.
Biobased materials derived from plant residues are
opening up exciting opportunities for environmentally-responsible
products. As trendsetters like biobased
epichlorohydrin (ECH), bio-succinic acid and lignin continue
to offer more sustainable alternatives for traditional chemicals,
it is increasingly important that the materials are
sourced responsibly.
Epicerol ® is an ECH based on 100 % renewable glycerine,
a by-product from the transformation of vegetable oils.
Manufactured by Advanced Biochemical Thailand Co., Ltd.
(ABT) using an innovative process developed by Solvay, the
drop-in was developed and commercialised because of
demand for a truly sustainable ECH.
A comparative Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) benchmarked
Epicerol against state-of-the-art propylene-based
processes from cradle-to-gate. It showed that incorporating
one tonne of Epicerol can reduce a product’s carbon footprint
by 2.56 tonnes CO 2
equivalent, which corresponds to a
61 % reduction of the Global Warming Potential (the sum
of GHG emissions and biogenic CO 2
capture). Epicerol also
benefits from a 57 % reduction of non-renewable energy
consumption.
The technology reduces the volume of chlorinated byproducts
from production by over 80 %, while another
distinctive technology enables brine recycling and drastically
reduces liquid effluents.
Epicerol has recently received awards for its environmental
profile. The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and
the JEC Company have both commended it, in 2016 and
2015 respectively.
Because the glycerine for the process is a by-product from
biodiesel and oleochemicals production, it brings added
value to a material which might otherwise go to waste and
contributes by supporting smallholders. To this end, ABT
works with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
(RSB) to manage the impact of its raw materials.
In 2015, ABT became the first biobased chemical operator
in Asia to obtain certification from RSB. To further show its
commitment, ABT joined UN agencies and influential NGOs
in becoming a full member of RSB as well. Members are
experts in rural development, food security, environmental
conservation and industry.
ABT sources it vegetable glycerine from suppliers which
are certified and have a number of their own sustainability
measures in place throughout the value chain. These
include mills that fuel boilers with waste and generate
electricity from captured methane.
Epicerol continues to demonstrate its value as a
commercially-proven drop-in. As with traditional ECH, it is
a chemical used for a wide range of industries, including
the production of epoxy resins for coatings, advanced
composite materials and electronic components. It is also
used in the production of lens monomers for eyewear and
synthetic rubbers for the automotive and printing sectors.
Supplied in industrial quantities to major producers
worldwide, Epicerol continues to be demonstrated as the
most sustainable ECH in terms of carbon footprint and
process environmental performance.
www.solvay.com
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12