| Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment
UV shielding bio-derived furanic polymers.
IPR Status & Details:
IN 201811003807, WO 2019150386A1, SG 11202005110XA, US 2020354558A1, EP 3746506A1, AU 2019213848B2
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed
Application potential: The humin-like furanic polymers can be used as both UV light shielding agent and as well as for improving mechanical strength in various products such as thin films, bottles, tablet strips for pharmaceutical uses, windows, display screens guard, sun protective glass, welding glass, vertical blind, cloths, paints, varnish, dispersant, sun-screen lotions and creams.
Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
TRL Level & Scale of Development:- TRL 4 TRL Reference
Furanic polymer (BFP) has been prepared at 300 g per batch, and BFP/PVA composite thin film is prepared at 1-meter length scale by a solvent casting method. BFP/PMMA composites prepared at 2.5 cm dia scale by micro compounding and compressing mould-casting method. BFP/LLDPE composite is prepared at few hundred meter scale by melt blowing method. The approaches render confidence that the BFP can be used at even larger scale through different methods.
Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.)
As BFP is biomass derived polymeric powder, it can be used as both UV shielding agent and as well as for improving mechanical strength in various products such as thin films, bottles, tablet strips for pharmaceutical uses, windows, display screens guard, sun protective glass, welding glass, vertical blind, cloths, paints, varnish, dispersant, sun-screen lotions and creams.
Environmental Considerations
This process is eco-friendly. No waste is generated.
Status of Licensing:
Licensed technology
Status of Commercialization:
Not applicable
Major Raw Materials Needed
Polysaccharide and sugar sources for preparation of BFP (agarose chitosan, κ-carrageenan, cellulose, seaweed cellulose (Ulva), potassium alginate, starch, glucose, fructose, sucrose and xylose); Polymer (Polyvinyl chloride, Polyvinylidene fluoride, Poly(methyl methacrylate), Linear low-density polyethylene); Bio-polymer (κ-carrageenan, potassium alginate, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Carboxymethylcellulose, agarose, and agar); Solvent (Water, DMSO, Methanol).
Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required
Reaction vessel; Centrifuge/filter assembly; Micro compounding; Melt mixture; Twin screw extruder; Melt blower; Dryer; Film making machines.
Techno-Economics
Tentative Price: ₹600-700/Kg (without considering the other valuable products produced such as HMF).
BFP powder is not yet available as a commercial product.
Technology Package
Licensing of technology would include the know-how of BFP synthesis and BFP-polymer composite making and demonstrating its UV-shielding property; License fee, royalty and other financial details are available on request