Seeking Technology to Neutralize 1,3-Butadiene

A SpecialChem Client is interested in new processes or technologies which can potentially remove or capture 1,3-butadiene or catalyze the conversion of 1,3-butadiene into less harmful compounds.

Although the exact mechanisms of 1,3-butadiene formation are unclear, it is produced during combustion and pyrolysis of organic compounds and also through steam cracking of petroleum products. It is widely used in the production of rubber, plastics and copolymers such as acrylics. This molecule is highly polluting and is known to be carcinogenic to humans through inhalation.

Main sources of 1,3-butadiene formation are burning of rubber and plastic, motor vehicle exhaust and forest fires – being normally present at low concentrations in most urban centers and, therefore, a significant health hazard.

The SpecialChem Client is interested in new processes or technologies which can potentially remove or capture 1,3-butadiene or catalyse the conversion of 1,3-butadiene into less harmful compounds.

Interesting solutions might include:

• Catalytic degradation into less toxic products
• Reactions with other substrates ('click' chemistry)
• Diels-Alder reactions, particularly if bound to a solid substrate that can trap the 1,3-butadiene
• Solid support reactions
• Host-guest chemistry
• Selective filters/molecular sieves

Industries that deal with 1,3-butadiene include:

• Petrochemical Industry
• Synthetic rubber manufacturing
• Fire fighting
• Motor vehicles

The SpecialChem Client - multinational company building new solutions for pollution control (particularly pollutants toxic for human contact) is interested in building collaborations with companies and researchers around the world that might help with this particular problem.

See Detailed solution description

The SpecialChem Client has previously worked with filtration adsorption onto zeolites and activated carbon surfaces, but these solutions proved ineffective particularly due to the competition for adsorption space by other, less volatile, combustion products.

ASAP

Expertise / research being done in this area that doesn’t necessarily provide a solution but that offers new insight into the mechanisms of formation of 1,3-butadiene and/or its behavior in adsorption onto activated carbon surfaces is also of interest. Possible solutions that are still in an early stage of development would be considered.