Novel Technique Uses Material from Corn to Make Renewable Paints, Diapers

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A new method developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota could revolutionize the production of renewable chemicals and enable a host of more environmentally friendly consumer products.

Scientists said a newly discovered catalyst could efficiently convert material from trees or corn into acrylic acid and acrylates, which are needed to make a wide range of coatings, adhesives, polymers, and other materials. Acrylic acid is ordinarily made from fossil fuels, and although it has been produced from corn-derived lactic acid before, those processes tend to be cumbersome and expensive.

The new catalyst, researchers said, produces the highest yield of acrylic acid from lactic acid to date, and could make renewable acrylic acid cheaper than its fossil fuel-based rivals. It could also lead to viable renewable versions of many different products, from paints to diapers.

For now, Minnesota researchers plan to continue their work in order to understand the fundamental chemistry behind the promising new process. Marc Hillmyer, the director of the university's Center for Sustainable Polymers, said this is an example of addressing past research questions "at the heart of fundamental catalysis," which led to new promising processes.

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