Synthesis and Application of Carbonated Fatty Acid Esters from Carbon Dioxide Including a Life Cycle Analysis. Issue 4 (11th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schäffner, Benjamin; Blug, Matthias; Kruse, Daniela; Polyakov, Mykola; Köckritz, Angela; Martin, Andreas; Rajagopalan, Prasanna; Bentrup, Ursula; Brückner, Angelika; Jung, Sebastian; Agar, David; Rüngeler, Bettina; Pfennig, Andreas; Müller, Karsten; Arlt, Wolfgang; Woldt, Benjamin; Graß, Michael; Buchholz, Stefan
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 7:Issue 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 1133
• Page End: 1139
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11
• Subjects: Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201301115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Carbon dioxide can be used in various ways as a cheap C1 source. However, the utilization of CO₂ requires energy or energy‐rich reagents, which leads to further emissions, and therefore, diminishes the CO₂‐saving potential. Therefore, life cycle assessment (LCA) is required for each process that uses CO₂ to provide valid data for CO₂ savings. Carbon dioxide can be incorporated into epoxidized fatty acid esters to provide the corresponding carbonates. A robust catalytic process was developed based on simple halide salts in combination with a phase‐transfer catalyst. The CO₂‐saving potential was determined by comparing the carbonates as a plasticizer with an established phthalate‐based plasticizer. Although CO₂ savings of up to 80 % were achieved, most of the savings arose from indirect effects and not from CO₂ utilization. Furthermore, other categories have been analyzed in the LCA. The use of biobased material has a variety of impacts on categories such as eutrophication and marine toxicity. Therefore, the benefits of biobased materials have to be evaluated carefully for each case. Finally, interesting properties as plasticizers were obtained with the carbonates. The volatility and water extraction could be improved relative to the epoxidized system.</p> </abstract>