137
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
T. J. Gutiérrez (ed.), Reactive and Functional Polymers Volume One,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43403-8_7
Chapter 7
Synthesis of Biobased Polyurethane Foams
From Agricultural and Forestry Wastes
Hongwei Li, Zhongshun Yuan, Yongsheng Zhang, Chun Chang,
and Chunbao (Charles) Xu
Abstract Polyurethanes (PUs) are widely used for many engineering applications
due to their diversified properties caused by different components and additives.
Polyurethane (PU) foams, as one of the most important PU materials, are widely
used in automotive parts, bedding, cushion, flotation, insulation materials and packaging. However, the PU industry relies heavily on petroleum-derived chemicals
because the PU synthesis involves two major component materials (i.e. polyols and
isocyanates) currently both derived from non-renewable petroleum resources.
Today, the growing bioeconomy has intensified the interest of the PU industry in the
development of biobased PU (BPU) foams using biopolyols (also known as biooils) derived from agricultural and forestry residues. This chapter aims to summarize the recent conversion technologies of forestry and agricultural residues into
biopolyols, and the methods for the preparation of BPU foams by using biopolyols
derived from the bio-resources.
Keywords Bio-oils · Biopolyols · Bio-resources · Conversion technologies
H. Li · Z. Yuan
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University,
London, ON, Canada
Y. Zhang · C. Chang
Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists, School of Chemical Engineering and
Energy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR, People’s Republic of China
C. Xu (*)
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University,
London, ON, Canada
Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists, School of Chemical Engineering and
Energy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR, People’s Republic of China
e-mail: cxu6@uwo.ca
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
T. J. Gutiérrez (ed.), Reactive and Functional Polymers Volume One,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43403-8_7
Chapter 7
Synthesis of Biobased Polyurethane Foams
From Agricultural and Forestry Wastes
Hongwei Li, Zhongshun Yuan, Yongsheng Zhang, Chun Chang,
and Chunbao (Charles) Xu
Abstract Polyurethanes (PUs) are widely used for many engineering applications
due to their diversified properties caused by different components and additives.
Polyurethane (PU) foams, as one of the most important PU materials, are widely
used in automotive parts, bedding, cushion, flotation, insulation materials and packaging. However, the PU industry relies heavily on petroleum-derived chemicals
because the PU synthesis involves two major component materials (i.e. polyols and
isocyanates) currently both derived from non-renewable petroleum resources.
Today, the growing bioeconomy has intensified the interest of the PU industry in the
development of biobased PU (BPU) foams using biopolyols (also known as biooils) derived from agricultural and forestry residues. This chapter aims to summarize the recent conversion technologies of forestry and agricultural residues into
biopolyols, and the methods for the preparation of BPU foams by using biopolyols
derived from the bio-resources.
Keywords Bio-oils · Biopolyols · Bio-resources · Conversion technologies
H. Li · Z. Yuan
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University,
London, ON, Canada
Y. Zhang · C. Chang
Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists, School of Chemical Engineering and
Energy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR, People’s Republic of China
C. Xu (*)
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University,
London, ON, Canada
Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists, School of Chemical Engineering and
Energy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR, People’s Republic of China
e-mail: cxu6@uwo.ca