Research & technical development
Much and promising work done
The fine salt mystery, squeaking fruit packaging, the REACH saga … who would still claim that present day research and development is no longer exciting? One thing is obvious: people in Research & Technical Development (R&TD) had a lot on their hands in 2008
In Unit 1000, R&TD made serious efforts in solving the so-called fine salt mystery. During start-up of the silanes production, very fine salt was formed. Silanes are an intermediary of the manufacturing of green car tires. Those are ‘green’ because they enable cars to consume less thanks to a lower rolling resistance. After a long investigation, researchers managed to identify and remove the cause of the fine salt problem.
Four pilot projects
The second half of 2008 was very important to R&TD as Proviron managed to start up four pilot projects with applications’ tests. The results of these tests will be known in 2009. Three applications are situated in the business unit Products and one in the BU Toll Manufacturing. More specifically, these are two plasticizers, one renewables based product for the agricultural chemical industry, and a derivative from the biodiesel unit for use as animal feed.
Frying oil
In 2008, the biodiesel unit ran on several vegetable commodities. This allowed R&TD to make observations and execute tests with regard to replacing expensive coleseed. Researchers looked at the possibility to apply used frying oil as well as other vegetal or animal based oils and fats for the production of biodiesel.
Against squeaking fruit packaging
With the shift to functional chemicals in the back of their minds, R&TD developed a range of new products in close cooperation with the customer. That was done mostly in the three strategic domains: niche plasticizers, specialty esters and sulfonates for water-based systems. Take for example a new plasticizer, specifically developed to be added to biopolymers. These biopolymers are applied in biodegradable fruit packaging, already on the market. Unfortunately this packaging squeaks and cracks, which has led Proviron to develop a plasticizer, preferably biodegradable, which is being tested.
Healthy animal feed
A replacement product for antibiotics in animal feed is yet another application of functional chemicals. R&TD have been searching for chemically more justifiable alternatives. The active substance itself has already been discovered, but there are still some drawbacks such as an unpleasant odour to animals.
REACH
On 1 June 2007 the European REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) became law. The basic principle of REACH is simple: no data, no market. A so-called preregistration is to provide companies and their customers with legal certainty about the continued production and use of the substances in question. This preregistration brings together companies with the same substance which should then lead to a joint registration file. Proviron is for a number of products the lead registrant: for BBSA (polymer additive), SVS (water-emulsifier), DPS (polymer additive) and BSC (functional monomer). In 2008, REACH already required one employee working full time to look after the preregistrations.