Ethyl rhamnolipids as a renewable source to produce biopolyurethanes:

DOI Link to Article (10.1002/ejlt.20140029) 

ABSTRACT (in Brief): Lipids are an attractive feedstock to produce biopolyurethanes. Here we show that ethyl-rhamnolipids can be used to synthesize polyurethanes. Rhamnolipids are an environmentally friendly and renewable feedstock produced through microbial fermentation. In this study, 1,6-hexane diisocyanate (HDI) was reacted with ethyl-rhamnolipids. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the glass transition temperature could be adjusted from 19 to 50 °C. Since ethyl rhamnolipids are liquid at 50 °C, the liquid polyols were found to have good mixing and reaction properties. This work helps to promote future synthesis of novel biosourced and “green” polyurethane production.