No abstract

In the present study, an epoxy compound, 1,2‐epoxy‐6‐methyl‐triglycidyl‐3,4,5‐cyclohexanetricarboxylate (EGCHC) synthesized from sorbic acid, maleic anhydride, and allyl alcohol is proposed. Using commodity chemicals, a bio‐based carbon content of 68.4 % for the EGCHC resin is achieved. When cured with amine hardeners, the high oxirane content of EGCHC forms stiff cross‐linked networks with strong mechanical and thermal properties. The characterization of the epoxy specimens showed that EGCHC can compete with conventional epoxy resins such as DGEBA. A maximum stiffness of 3965 MPa, tensile strength of 76 MPa, and Tg of 130 °C can be obtained by curing EGCHC with isophorone diamine (IPD). The cured resin showed to be decomposable under mild conditions due to the ester bonds. The solid material properties of EGCHC expose its potential as a promising bisphenol A, and epichlorohydrine free alternative to conventional petroleum‐based epoxies with an overall high bio‐based carbon content.

Environmentally friendly processes that use enzymatic catalysts are often affected by faster deactivation than their conventional catalyst competitors. An intelligent process design that increases the lifetime of the enzyme Candida Antarctica Lipase B in an epoxidation reaction is described. Employing this strategy could result in an advancement of the competitiveness of the cost-intensive biological catalyst. With parallel fixed bed reactors operating in staggered mode and extended by an activity-dependent volume flow control, the lifetime and productivity of the enzyme were significantly increased. The process strategy presented is not limited to the underlying reaction system but can be applied to similar processes facing a fast activity decay.