Dow develops propylene glycol from renewables.

Dow Chemical announced a significant milestone in its pursuit of sustainable chemistries with the introduction of monopropylene glycol derived from renewable resources. Propylene glycol renewable (PGR) is made from glycerin generated during the manufacture of biodiesel, a diesel fuel alternative produced from vegetable oil. Dow is currently conducting PGR trials with customers and anticipates having limited commercial quantities available this year. PGR will be used in such applications as unsaturated polyester resins for boat hulls and bathroom fixtures, as well as aircraft de-icers, antifreeze, and heavy duty laundry detergents.

"PGR provides environmental benefits and is cost competitive. It also offers the same outstanding characteristics in terms of quality and performance as our existing PG products," said Mady Bricco, global product director, propylene oxide/propylene glycol.

According to Bricco, in addition to being manufactured from what is essentially a byproduct of the biodiesel process, the production of PGR can be expected to provide additional environmental benefits when compared with propylene-based PG. For example, laboratory tests indicate that manufacturing PGR will consume considerably less fresh water than conventional PG. "We are excited to be at the forefront in developing this innovative, sustainable product. Using PGR will enable customers to exercise their commitment to technologies that consume less fossil fuel and other finite resources."

Dow Chemical