PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste

L. Jiang; A. Gonzalez-Diaz; J. Ling-Chin; A. Malik; A. P. Roskilly; A. J. Smallbone

doi:10.1038/s41893-020-0549-y

PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste

L. Jiang^* (Corresponding Author), A. Gonzalez-Diaz, J. Ling-Chin, A. Malik, A. P. Roskilly, A. J. Smallbone

^*Corresponding author for this work

Engineering

Durham University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) is considered as a renewable-based solution to its fossil-based counterpart polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, due to its lengthy and energy-intensive production process, PEF has not been established at a commercial scale. Here we present a new study on PEF produced from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and non-food-derived biomass to provide an alternative for PET. We assess PEF production from an energy consumption, environmental impacts and production cost point of view at an industrial scale using mass and energy balance, life-cycle assessment and payback period. The results show that emissions and energy consumption can be reduced up to 40.5% compared with PET. Abiotic depletion (fossil) (6.90 × 104 MJ), global-warming potential (3.75 × 103 kg CO2-equivalent) and human toxicity potential (2.18 × 103 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalent) are the three most substantial impacts in producing one tonne of PEF. By applying optimal design and mature technology, PEF produced from industrial CO2 and biowastes could be a feasible and competitive substitute for PET and other materials.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	761-767
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Sustainability
Volume	3
Early online date	1 Jun 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0549-y
Publication status	Published - Sept 2020

Bibliographical note

This research was supported by CCS from Industrial clusters and their Supply chains (CCSInSupply) funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UK (EP/N024567/1).

Keywords

CAPTURE
CO2
FOSSIL
GAS COMBINED-CYCLE
STORAGE
TECHNOLOGY

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Jiang_etal_NATSUSTAIN_PEF_Plastic_AAMAccepted author manuscript, 294 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste",

abstract = "Polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) is considered as a renewable-based solution to its fossil-based counterpart polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, due to its lengthy and energy-intensive production process, PEF has not been established at a commercial scale. Here we present a new study on PEF produced from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and non-food-derived biomass to provide an alternative for PET. We assess PEF production from an energy consumption, environmental impacts and production cost point of view at an industrial scale using mass and energy balance, life-cycle assessment and payback period. The results show that emissions and energy consumption can be reduced up to 40.5% compared with PET. Abiotic depletion (fossil) (6.90 × 104 MJ), global-warming potential (3.75 × 103 kg CO2-equivalent) and human toxicity potential (2.18 × 103 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalent) are the three most substantial impacts in producing one tonne of PEF. By applying optimal design and mature technology, PEF produced from industrial CO2 and biowastes could be a feasible and competitive substitute for PET and other materials.",

keywords = "CAPTURE, CO2, FOSSIL, GAS COMBINED-CYCLE, STORAGE, TECHNOLOGY",

author = "L. Jiang and A. Gonzalez-Diaz and J. Ling-Chin and A. Malik and Roskilly, {A. P.} and Smallbone, {A. J.}",

note = "This research was supported by CCS from Industrial clusters and their Supply chains (CCSInSupply) funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UK (EP/N024567/1). ",

year = "2020",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1038/s41893-020-0549-y",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

pages = "761--767",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste

AU - Jiang, L.

AU - Gonzalez-Diaz, A.

AU - Ling-Chin, J.

AU - Malik, A.

AU - Roskilly, A. P.

AU - Smallbone, A. J.

N1 - This research was supported by CCS from Industrial clusters and their Supply chains (CCSInSupply) funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UK (EP/N024567/1).

PY - 2020/9

Y1 - 2020/9

N2 - Polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) is considered as a renewable-based solution to its fossil-based counterpart polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, due to its lengthy and energy-intensive production process, PEF has not been established at a commercial scale. Here we present a new study on PEF produced from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and non-food-derived biomass to provide an alternative for PET. We assess PEF production from an energy consumption, environmental impacts and production cost point of view at an industrial scale using mass and energy balance, life-cycle assessment and payback period. The results show that emissions and energy consumption can be reduced up to 40.5% compared with PET. Abiotic depletion (fossil) (6.90 × 104 MJ), global-warming potential (3.75 × 103 kg CO2-equivalent) and human toxicity potential (2.18 × 103 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalent) are the three most substantial impacts in producing one tonne of PEF. By applying optimal design and mature technology, PEF produced from industrial CO2 and biowastes could be a feasible and competitive substitute for PET and other materials.

AB - Polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) is considered as a renewable-based solution to its fossil-based counterpart polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, due to its lengthy and energy-intensive production process, PEF has not been established at a commercial scale. Here we present a new study on PEF produced from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and non-food-derived biomass to provide an alternative for PET. We assess PEF production from an energy consumption, environmental impacts and production cost point of view at an industrial scale using mass and energy balance, life-cycle assessment and payback period. The results show that emissions and energy consumption can be reduced up to 40.5% compared with PET. Abiotic depletion (fossil) (6.90 × 104 MJ), global-warming potential (3.75 × 103 kg CO2-equivalent) and human toxicity potential (2.18 × 103 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalent) are the three most substantial impacts in producing one tonne of PEF. By applying optimal design and mature technology, PEF produced from industrial CO2 and biowastes could be a feasible and competitive substitute for PET and other materials.

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KW - FOSSIL

KW - GAS COMBINED-CYCLE

KW - STORAGE

KW - TECHNOLOGY

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ER -

PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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