Life cycle assessment of photodegradable polymeric material derived from renewable bioresources

The popularity and variety of bio-based polymers are increasing as the chemical industry identifies and develops commercial biomass alternatives for traditional petroleum-based products. Environmental impacts and renewability of novel biochemical processes or materials must be determined in a quantitative manner to support sustainable development. A life cycle assessment (LCA) model was constructed for programmed photodegradation of polymeric/oligomeric materials derived from renewable bioresources. This research evaluates the sustainability for the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a polymer building block, from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), an intermediate derived from renewable resource fructose. A phototrigger is attached to the monomers during the polymerization process, resulting in a polymer that degrades in the presence of UV light. The LCA results indicate that 38 -49% of environmental impacts were attributed to the conversion of FDCA to polymer, where electricity consumption and use of non-renewable chemicals such as dichloromethane and other solvents were significant contributors. The process of recycling of polymeric material reduced all environmental impacts, suggesting that recycling outweighs the impacts caused by the production of phototriggers. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.