I wonder what they would get if they tried it with BioDiesel?
Greg H. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith Addison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <biofuel@sustainablelists.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 12:47 Subject: [Biofuel] New Biodegradable Polymers > STORY LEAD: > New Citric Acid-Based Polymers for Agricultural Applications > ___________________________________________ > > ARS News Service > Agricultural Research Service, USDA > Sharon Durham, (301) 504-1611, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > August 24, 2005 > --View this report online, plus any included photos or other images, > at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr > ___________________________________________ > > A biodiesel fuel byproduct called glycerol and an agricultural > commodity called citric acid can be chemically combined to produce > biodegradable polymers that could be used in produce packaging and > other products, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists. > > Justin Barone, a chemist at the ARS Environmental Quality Laboratory > in Beltsville, Md., made the discovery while studying processes for > improving the effectiveness of insecticides that contain citric acid > as an active ingredient. Citric acid washes away very quickly in the > environment, limiting its effectiveness. > > Barone found that molecules containing hydrogen and oxygen--such as > glycerol, sorbitol or polyethylene glycol--reacted with citric acid > to produce polymers with citric acid groups in them. The materials > formed are biodegradable polyesters. Further study showed that the > viscosity of the material can range from the consistency of paint to > a slow-to-dissolve, glasslike product, depending on how the chemical > reaction takes place. > > The new biodegradable polymers may provide the biodiesel industry > with a new use for glycerol, which is now disposed of after the > biodiesel is made. In addition, citric acid is used in the food > industry as a retardant to browning in cut fruits and vegetables. The > new citric acid-based polyesters may prove useful as a packaging > material. Studies are under way to determine whether the new polymers > would work as well as pure citric acid in these applications. > > ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
