Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) develops eco-friendly bio-based polyols

Researchers at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) have developed more than 10 new palm-based polyols for use in polymer products, especially environmentally friendly polyurethanes
.

In a recent statement, MPOB said: The palm-based polyols developed include Pioneer series palm oil-based polyols, fatty acid-based polyols, waste edible oil-based polyols; PolyFAME series fatty acid methyl ester-based polyols, acrylic acid ring polyols Oxidized palm oil polyols and co-polymer polyols
.

“To intensify research on polyols, MPOB has invested RM2 million to build three pilot plants with a capacity of 150 litres, 500 litres and 1,000 litres to produce palm-based polyols
.
MPOB invites participation from the polyol and polyurethane industries , using its headquarters-based polyol pilot plant for pre-commercial testing and R&D
.
”

The pilot plant provides facilities including reactant feed tanks, two main reactors for epoxidation and alcoholysis reactions, settling tanks and drying vessels, MPOB said
.

Director-General Dr Datuk Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the response to the pilot plant was encouraging from participants including Magnechem Sdn Bhd, Rovski Sdn Bhd, Rokisar Sdn Bhd, Techbond Greentech Sdn Bhd and the German-Malaysia Institute
.

He said industry players should explore polyol pilot plants that are fully equipped to produce not only palm-based polyols but also other products such as epoxidized palm oil and dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA)
.

"MPOB's polyol pilot plant facility can produce up to 80% of the total capacity (1,650 liters) of all three plants," he said
.