Abstract

In previous articles, the author provided 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 2014 patents. 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. In addition, the author has chosen to include patents that don’t necessarily involve bio-based materials, but may involve other ecologically sound activities such as recycling, reduction of energy & greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. The author will provide examples that include novel household and personal care formulation and packaging patents; and will make succinct comments for each patent rather than reproduce the entire abstract. 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 categories, areas of specific application and miscellaneous sustainable technologies. Patent examples are specified by title, applicant names and patent number as they appear in the EPO database.

BIO-BASED ROUTES TO PETRO-BASED MATERIALS

Materials highlighted are propylene glycol (PG), dipropylene glycol (DPG) & tripropylene glycol (TPG). Bio-based propylene glycol is commercially available. Archer Daniels Midlands Company describes processes to convert bio-based PG to DPG & TPG. 1,2-pentanediol is useful as a moisturiser and cited as a preservative booster in cosmetic formulations. A link is provided announcing the construction of a bio-based 1,2-pentanediol production facility for the Minafin group. Verdezyne and Sime Darby are partnering to realise bio-based chemicals, such as adipic acid, from palm oil. Adipic acid is a raw material used for making nylon 6-6 and adipate ester solvents. Glycol Biotechnologies discloses processes for the conversion of glycerol to isoprene, an import raw material for rubber manufacture. A lignocellulosic biomass route to terephthalic acid, a raw material for polyethylene terephthalate, is described by Cedar Advanced Technology & ETH. Finally, the biosynthesis of 1,4-butandediol and acrylic acid are disclosed by OPX Biotechnologies. Dow Chemical and OPX technologies have announced collaboration for th ...