Synthetic rubber from renewable raw materials

Working with experts from U.S. bio raw material manufacturer Gevo, specialty chemicals company LANXESS has achieved this coup. The basis for this is currently corn in animal feed -- but in the future it will also be possible to use the cellulose-containing parts of plants as well. How does this work? The starch in the corn kernels is split off, and among the products produced is sugar. Special microorganisms turn these sugar molecules into isobutanol. A dehydration process specially developed by LANXESS then generates isobutene, the starting product for butyl rubber. This particularly airtight material is used among other applications as an inner liner in tires.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lanxess
• green tires
• synthetic rubber
• renewable raw materials
• Gevo
• isobutene
• butyl rubber