Germany-based petrochemical giant BASF has developed a proprietary process for mass production of 2-Octyl Acrylate (2-OA). It has set up an industrial-scale production facility at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
The new acrylic monomer features 73% bio-based content, determined by carbon-14 (C-14) analysis. C-14 testing determines the percentage of renewable products in a product by detecting the number of carbon-14 isotopes in products. This radioactive isotope naturally occurs in organic materials but not in fossil fuels. BASF also launched the new product as 2-Octyl Acrylate BMB ISCC Plus, where the remaining carbon content is bio-attributed through BASF’s biomass balance approach (BMB).
BASF’s 2-Octyl Acrylate uses 2-Octanol as the bio-based feedstock. This bio-alcohol is based on castor oil, a non-edible feedstock derived from castor beans. In May 2016, BASF and its partners launched a programme called Pragati to enable sustainable castor bean farming in India. 2-Octyl Acrylate can be used as bio-based alternative to fossil-based monomers such as 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate (2-EHA) and n-Butyl Acrylate (BA), in adhesives formulations, or coatings applications, for example.
BASF said the new product offers performance benefits compared to fossil alternatives, showing improved scrub resistance in coatings, shear resistance in adhesives, and excellent weatherability, making it suitable for both standard and high-performance applications. It also has a high degree of purity and low volatile organic compounds.
The new bio-based acrylic monomer is already registered in the European Union, the United States, and Japan, amongst others.