Opportunities of R & D and skill development in the field of Polyolefin and specialty chemicals in

collaboration with India and Bangladesh

Abul Basher MiahAdviser, DISA Institute of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

&

Former Director, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation(BCIC)

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Summit on Global Chemicals & Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India, 11~12 November, 2019, Mumbai, India

• Use of Polyolefins are increasing day by day through-out the world

• Chemical Industries, chemical activities, end user and supportive industries are growing both in Bangladesh & India.

• Bangladesh has manufacturing plants like: Fertilizers, basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, cement, glass & ceramic, cosmetics & toiletries, Sugar & food, pesticides & herbicides, textiles, tanneries, vegetable oil & petroleum refineries

• Bangladesh have R & D laboratories in universities, research institutions, testing laboratories and chemical industries.

• With this views in end collaboration between India and Bangladesh is highly needed to address the issue of R& D and skill development in Polyolefins and Specialty chemicals

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Objectives

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Topics to be covered

• Basic concept on Polyolefin & Specialty Chemicals

• Physical and chemical behavior of Polyolfin

• Common types of Polyolefin Polymer

• Recycling technique of Polyolefin from Plastics

• R&D on Polyolefin and specialty chemicals

• Suggestions and recommendations

Basics of Polyolefin

• Olefin, also called alkene, compound made upof hydrogen and carbon that contains one or more pairs ofcarbon atoms linked by a double bond. Olefins are examplesof unsaturated hydrocarbons.

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They are classified in either or both of the following ways:(1)cyclic/acyclic (aliphatic) olefins, Acyclic branched or unbranched

hydrocarbons having one carbon-carbon double bond and thegeneral formula CnH2n, and

(2) monoolefins, diolefins, triolefins, etc., in which the number ofdouble bonds per molecule is, respectively, one, two, three, or someother number.

cycloooctyne

Olefin fibers

• Olefin fiber is a synthetic fiber made from a polyolefin, suchas polypropylene or polyethylene.

• Uses: It is used in wallpaper, carpeting, ropes, and vehicle interiors.

• Major fiber properties:✓Warmth without the weight.✓The fibers have low moisture absorption.✓Olefin is abrasion, stain, sunlight, fire, and chemical resistant.✓Since Olefin has a low melting point, textiles can be thermally bonded.✓The fibers have the lowest static of all manufactured fibers and a medium luster.✓One of the most important properties of olefin is its strength.

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Physical and chemical structure of Olefin fibre

• PhysicalOlefin fibers can be multi- or monofilament and staple, tow, or film yarns.The fibers are round in cross section. This cross section can be modified fordifferent end uses. The physical characteristics are a waxy feel andcolorless.

• ChemicalThere are two types of polymers that can be used in olefin fibers.

1. polyethylene, is a simple linear structure with repeating units. Thesefibers are used mainly for ropes, twines and utility fabrics.

2. polypropylene, is a three-dimensional structure with a backbone ofcarbon atoms. Methyl groups protrude from this backbone. Stereoselective polymerization creates a crystalline polypropylene polymer.The fibers made with these polymers can be used in apparel,furnishing and industrial products.

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• Polyethylene (PE) with subgroups

• high-density HDPE

• low-density LDPE

• linear low-density LLDPE

• Polypropylene (PP)

• Ehylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber

• Table of common Polyolefins and typical uses:

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Polymer Type Symbol Examples of use

HDPE ♴ fuel tanks, bottle caps, plastic bottles

LDPE ♴ liquid containers, tubing, plastic wrap,…

PP ♴ piping, carpet, roofing, hinges, auto parts

EPDM - seals, electrical insulation, roofing,…

Common Types Of Polyolefin Polymers

Specialty chemicals

Specialty chemicals (also called specialties or effect chemicals) are particular chemical products which provide a wide variety of effects on which many other industry sectors rely.

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Categories of specialty chemicals

adhesives agrichemicals cleaning materials flavors automotive

colors cosmetic additives construction chemicals lubricants manufacturing

elastomers industrial gases food additives paints aerospace

fragrances textile auxiliaries surfactants Tanneries And so on

Why need to emphasis on Specialty Chemicals•The market for specialty chemicals is expected to register a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5.17% duringa forecasted period (2019-2024).

•The major factors driving the growth of the market studied are the robust growth of construction activities, especially inthe Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & African regions and growth of oil exploration and production activities.

•Paints and coatings dominated the specialty chemicals market, in 2018, and is expected to grow during the forecast periodacross the world.

•Particularly in Bangladesh and India both countries major revenue generating industries are – textiles, Leather,agriculture, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, natural gas and a lot of promising sectors like automobiles, paint need a greatdeal of specialty chemicals.

•Growing R&D for developing new products is likely to provide opportunity for the market studied, over the forecastperiod.

•Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world, owing to the huge customer base, leading to high demand forspecialty chemicals, increasing industrial production.

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Recycling Techniques of Polyolefins from Plastic Wastes

Materials:

Model polyolefins (LDPE, HDPE and PP)

The solvents (toluene, xylene, n-hexane) reagent grade.

There are two techniques for recycling of Polyolefins:

1. Pyrolysis

2. Dissolution/reprecipitation technique:

Recycling of Polyolefins by pyrolysis

• The relative amounts of gas and liquid fraction are very much dependent on the type of polymer

used. Higher decomposition occur in PP, followed by LDPE and finally HDPE.

• Less crystalline or more branched polymers are less stable in thermal degradation.

• Pyrolysis technique seems to be the most promising technique resulting in an oil and gaseous

product.

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• Recycling of polyolefins by thedissolution/reprecipitation technique

In this technique polymer recovery isalways high. Polymer recovery can befavored by an increase in dissolutiontemperature and lower concentrationsof polymer in solvent.

In advance, the melting temperature ofall products before and after recycling.There is no significant differencebetween the values measured beforeand after recycling for all modelpolymers and waste samples.

Recycling Techniques of Polyolefins from Plastic Wastes (Cont.)

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Fig: Effect of dissolutiontemperature on the % recovery ofpolymer from model polyolefins

Fig: Effect of sample concentrationon the % recovery of polymer frommodel polyolefins

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R & D between India & Bangladesh

• To promote creative intellectual activity and for facilitating the transfer oftechnology related to industrial property to developing countries in order toaccelerate economic, social and cultural development, R & D is the key tosuccess of both partner country.

• Bangladesh-India signed bilateral project to work for professional skilldevelopment Institute at the Institute of Engineers in Khulna.

• India is the seventh largest patent filing office in the World.

Scope of R & D between India & Bangladesh

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What can we do for a better future?

• It costs US$4,000 to recycle 1 ton of plastic bags and you get a product that can be sold on the commodities market for US$32.

• The United Nations Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP), estimated that land-based sources account for up to 80 percent of the world's marine pollution, 60 to 95 percent of the waste being plastics debris.

• It is alarming. Isn’t it?

Alternatives• Biodegradable plastic bags, bottles etc.

• Plastics can be merged with Jute/Cotton to make a new product to save the earth.

** BJRI, Dhaka Bangladesh have innovated bio-degradable bags by merging plastic with jute fiber

• Fuel (Methane, Diesel, petrol) from wastage plastic bags/bottles etc.

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Scope of R & D between India & Bangladesh

• The major demand for polyolefin elastomers (POE) arises from automotiveindustry to produce trims, bumpers and interior and exterior components. POEis used in packaging industry as well as for the polymer modification. Thesaturated polymers produced by polyolefin elastomer have excellent UVresistance.

• The Polyolefin elastomers is used to provide super-elasticity and toughness tothe conventional polymers and, thus, finds wide application.

• Moreover, rising demand in foams, footwear, wires and cable, thermoplasticelastomers and injection molding goods would further boost the demand forPOE across the country.

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Growing demand of Polyolefins for India

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R&D in Polyolefins and Specialty Chemicals

• Currently, there are no manufacturers in India as well as Bangladesh that produce

polyolefins elastomers. India is totally dependent on import from major countries

such as Singapore, United Arab Emirates, USA, etc.

• So no question, India is looking for upcoming share of this sector.

• On the other hand, Bangladesh is running polyolefin research in some universities.

• So by arrangement of fund from Polyolefin end users and other stakeholders or

organizations, forums and alliances related to polyolefin elastomer distributor or

from Government bodies take R&D in collaboration.

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Suggestions and Recommendations

• Highly skilled and low-cost workforce arrangement:

Bangladesh produces quite a good numbers of engineering and science graduates.

• Property Rights policy:

Bangladesh to comply with Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) which is an

international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• Well stablished EPZ and UGC support:

Taking some strategies to help investors start-ups, or collaborate with small early stage service

providers.

• Policy support and government incentives:

To encourage investments in R&D, the government of Bangladesh needs to offer various tax incentives.

These include incentives on revenue and capital expenditures.

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Thank You