UK-based Econic Technologies, a company that has developed catalyst technology to use waste CO2 to make polymers, and Monument Chemical, a specialty chemical manufacturer, have announced they have agreed to collaborate on the development of the market for CO2-based polyols in North America.
Monument Chemical is the first US company to license Econic’s process for manufacturing polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols using waste CO2 as a source of renewable carbon. The company plans to begin production based on the Econic process in late 2023.
“The world’s drive to net-zero is forcing manufacturers to move to sustainable carbon sources, without compromising performance and cost. Our aim is to work with Monument to help sustainably grow their business with Econic’s groundbreaking technology,” said Econic CEO Keith Wiggins
The technology allows manufacturers to replace up to 30 percent of the fossil-based component in their polyols with captured CO2, without having to implement a host of modifications: the technology can operate efficiently under pressures low enough to be used in existing polymer manufacturing plants without the formation of significant by-products. The technology allows the level of CO2 to be controlled at a molecular level, enabling customers to produce cost-competitive polyurethane products with equal or higher performance and a lower carbon footprint.
Monument will upcycle waste carbon dioxide into polyols for high-performance foams, laminates, coatings, and elastomers for use in automotive, furniture, mattress, construction, and industrial applications.
"Licensing the Econic process marks a key milestone in Monument's commitment to providing specialty solutions to our customers in the US,” said Don Phillips, Vice President and General Manager, Oxides, of Monument Chemical.
Elsewhere, the technology has also sparked the interest of major consumer brands and their supply chains. The company recently announced that it has issued licenses to polyol manufacturers in India and China.