Soybeans dissolve foam
30 Jan 2002
The amount of Styrofoam disposed of in landfills could be greatly reduced in the future thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) who have discovered a process using soybean oil to dissolve polystyrene foam.
The inventors of the process, many of whom are involved with UMR's Center for Environmental Science and Technology, were recently awarded a patent for their invention.
The patent, No. 6337413, was awarded to UMR's researchers for a process using fatty acid methyl esters derived from seed oils - such as soybean oil - to dissolve polystyrene.
In essence, esters derived from soybean oil are excellent solvents for Styrofoam, and these materials offer a number of advantages in terms of cost and environmental compatibility, say Dr. Shubhen Kapila, professor of chemistry at UMR and a senior investigator at CEST, and Dr. Virgil Flanigan, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at UMR and director of CEST. Kapila and Flanigan are co-inventors of the process.
The obvious benefits include reduction of Styrofoam waste in landfills. 'We can take a waste that causes many problems in landfills due to its incredibly large volume, and concentrate it into a much smaller volume,' explains Michael Maples, another co-inventor. Maples, from Rolla, Mo., is a Ph.D. candidate in analytical chemistry at UMR.
However, the researchers weren't satisfied with simply reducing the volume of waste. 'We wanted to produce value-added products from the scrap material,' Kapila says. The researchers have developed several uses for the material, including coatings and resin systems for composite materials such as fibreglass.
The other inventor involved in the development of the process is Michael Mills, a former member of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.
Funding for the research leading to CEST's patent was provided through a state appropriation of $200,000 due in large part to the work of state Representative Bill Ransdall and state Senator Sarah Steelman. The Missouri Soybean Association also contributed to the project's funding.
