Environmental Performance of Alternative Green Polyol Synthesis Routes: A Proposal for Improvement

This study verified the environmental effectiveness of potentially less aggressive routes for synthesis poly(propylene/ethylene oxide) glycol (PPG). The analysis was developed in two stages. Firstly, performance conventional PPG processing route compared to alternative variants—vegetal and CO2-based PPG—applying life cycle assessment technique measure primary energy demand, global warming potential, acidification, photochemical oxidation, freshwater ecotoxicity impact categories. vegetable polyols from bio-based assets, such as oils, application CO2 conversion an technologies supported by petroleum natural gas were studied. use recovered through carbon capture usage practices resulted gains production. within vegetal assets not environmentally attractive option worse than arrangement 144% category, increase related deforestation carried out expand soybean cultivation Brazil. Secondly, improvement scenarios mitigate impacts performed. hypothesis using cleaner inputs obtain a more ecofriendly tested. concluded that high-purity brings fewer benefits other capturing sources need purification process before feeding synthesis.