1,3-Propanediol, also known as PDO, is an organic compound used as a monomer in a variety of applications. At the moment PDO can be obtained from both petrochemical and renewable sources. This gives me the chance to analyse how both routes lead to the same chemical, but not the same product.
Some of the main applications for PDO are listed below:
As a monomer in the production of polymers
As heat transfer fluid, coolant and solvant
As an additive in thermoplastic polyurethanes, to improve thermal, hydrolitic and dimensional stability
As an additive in polyester systems, to improve flexibility of coatings formulationsas a chain extender in polyurethane formulations
The largest producer of PDO is Shell, which manufactures it in its US plant in Geismar. Shell began PDO production in 2000 and it now has a plant capacity of 73 kt per year. The proprietary Shell method for producing PDO is the hydroformylation reaction of ethylene oxide (EO) with syngas to make 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (HPA)...
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PDO: petrochemical or renewable
On December - 11 - 2008
