Abstract

In previous articles, (links thereto provided at the end of this article), the author cited a year-to-date list of published patents and patent applications that disclose technology associated with the development of largely bio-based (plant-derived) consumer products. In this article, the author presents patents that issued in the latter part of 2014. Patents are chosen that highlight bio-based technology platforms that will lead, in the authors opinion, to materials useful in the development of household and personal care products. The author will provide examples that include novel household and personal care formulation and packaging patents; and will make succinct comments about them. This section is useful for household and personal care product formulators and makers of packaging materials for identifying new bio-based technology platforms and potential chemical and plastic raw material suppliers. Note that not all new technology platforms are revealed via patents alone and that the reader is encouraged to perform a literature search to uncover additional technologies that focus on ecologically sound consumer product development.
Patent data is provided via the European Patent Office database (http://worldwide.espacenet.com). Note that in this database, US application patents numbers have 10 digits. The United States Patent Office application patent numbers are 11 digits. To convert, simply add a “0” after the fourth digit. For example, 2013085285 in the EPO database would become 20130085285 in the USPTO database.
In this article, the patent examples will be listed according to bio-based material supply chain, and specific applications involving renewable resources. Patent examples are specified by title, applicant names and patent number as they appear in the EPO database.

BIO-BASED MATERIAL SUPPLY CHAIN

Braskem is a Brazilian firm which is capitalising on its position in sugar-derived ethanol to make ethylene and derivatives, including polyethylene, ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol. Many nonionic surfactants are made using EO. Ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid are the primary raw materials for making polyethylene terephthalate, which is used abundantly in product packaging. Stora Enzo, a company engaged in making products derived from wood pulp, describes a tall oil pitch deoxygenation process resulting in mainly hydrocarbons including p-xylene, which is the principal raw material for making terephthalic acid. Isoprene is a principal component of synthetic rubber mainly for use in tyres. However, significant use is found in personal hygiene products such as latex for condoms and as elastic polymers in nappies. Rennovia discloses a route to adipic acid via glucaric acid. Adipic acid is used for the manufacture of nylon 6-6, and adipate esters are used as fragrance solvents for air freshener applications and also as emollients for skin care. Glucaric acid itself is made via the oxidation of glucose. Rivertop Rene ...