Bio-solvents

Introduction
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a massive world-wide cause of pollution, emanating from paints and
coatings, fuels, aerosols, cleaning products and air fresheners amongst many other sources. The world solvents
market is estimated to grow by 2.3% in 2007 to hit 19.7 million tonnes, and with atmospheric releases still
commonly uncontrolled, this represents a serious environmental hazard. Production of most solvents is also based
on crude oil feedstocks, making them unsustainable. Although the use of chlorinated solvents is in decline, a
replacement for some applications is still to be found, meaning these ozone-depleting compounds are still being
released to the environment.

Bio-solvents, or solvent replacements from biological sources, have the potential to dramatically reduce the amount
of environmentally-polluting VOCs released to the atmosphere. They also have the advantage that they are
sustainable. However, there remains much work to be done to make their production cost-effective enough for
them to compete with traditional solvents.

Example bio-solvents include:

• Soy Methyl Ester (Soy oil esterified with methanol)

• Lactate Esters (Fermentation derived lactic acid reacted with methanol or ethanol)
• D-Limonene (Extracted from citrus rinds)
• Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs, from fermentation of sugars or lipids)

Here, the current market position of bio-solvents is outlined, including potential uses and future ambitions.

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Industrial and Academic Position

Industrial Applications
There are a growing number of companies that supply bio-solvents to the printing industry (Hydro-Dynamic
Products, Varn International, Akzo Nobel). These solvents are used to dissolve the pigments themselves, as well
as to clean printer rollers, plates and other machinery parts. Such solvents can also be used to de-ink paper so that
both the ink and the paper can be recycled.

Some paints and varnishes are now also available that contain bio-solvents. A handful of companies supply them
(Livos, EcoDesign) but the main barrier to widespread commercialisation is cost, with 5 litres of a typical wall paint
retailing for around £40. Bio-based Paint strippers and brush cleaning solvents are also available from similar
companies, but again costs are high, at around £12 a litre. As production costs fall and demand grows however,
these prices are likely to be reduced.

Bio-solvents for the home are also growing in number, with a small selection of companies offering cleaning and
degreasing products for household and office use (Vindotco, Lord and Partners). These products tend to use citrus
oils to cut grease but, even though they are billed as environmentally friendly, they are not always sustainable.
Often, additives such as ethylene glycol or amines are included in the formulation, which are still produced by the
petrochemicals industry (although bio-based feedstocks may become available shortly).

Academic Research
Much research is being devoted to the replacement of conventional organic solvents with biologically-derived
alternatives. This research uses a standard base of common bio-solvents and makes blends to carry out specific
functions. Testing of such blends is being carried out by research facilities around the world (eg. SSL), with reports
on applicability available on-line.

Research into the use of bio-solvents in chemical synthesis is advancing, with the successful replacement of
organic and halogenated solvents demonstrated for a range of syntheses. The list continues to grow slowly,
although this research effort is generally small.

Another area of investigation is the production of common organic solvents from biological feedstocks. An example
of this is the conversion of succinic acid into tetrahydrofuran (THF). Such research is highly advantageous, as the
production of the solvent would become sustainable and allow established chemistry using THF to continue in a
more environmentally sound way. Unfortunately, such production would not reduce VOC emissions.

The evaluation and refining of production methods for bio-solvents is under investigation, with new methods using
biological feedstocks being discovered that allow bio-solvent production at lower cost and higher purity. An
example of such research is work carried out at Argonne National Laboratory, US, where, using a technique called
pervaporation (see review on membranes), lactate esters can now be produced using 90% less energy than
previously and for around £270 per tonne. This makes them as cheap to buy as conventional solvents, allowing
cost-effective switching to the use of bio-solvents.

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Potential Impacts

Reduced:
High Impact

Environmental impact

Waste and emissions

Non-renewables use
Medium Impact

Life-cycle impact
Low Impact

Risk and hazard

Material useage

Energy use
Toxicity
Potential Impact

Technology Issues and the Future

There is a great deal of research underway into all things bio-based. After a long period of apathy by industry, the
research area is now receiving much attention and funding, due in part to successful example applications but also
because of the soaring costs of crude oil. Bio-solvents are likely to receive a higher proportion of research than
other bio-based areas, thanks to the large use of conventional and increasingly expensive solvents around the
globe.

While these is some research into the use of bio-solvents in chemical synthesis, this area remains limited and
academia seems largely uninterested in investigating possible bio-solvent systems. If industry is to replace
petroleum-derived solvents with bio-solvents in chemical preparation, academic research must investigate
reactions in alternative solvents more thoroughly and systematically. While this research is unlikely to seem ‘sexy’
or in vogue, universities and funding bodies should recognise its importance to help reduce our dependency on
crude oil.

As investment into bio-solvents increases and availability at lower prices improves, it is likely that industry will
become more interested in using common solvent alternatives. In order to achieve this, industry should be more
willing to help fund research projects into the technology. With further study into applicability, it is likely that the bio-
solvents market will continue to grow.

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