TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Iowa State University researchers have developed a synthetic process to convert soybean oil into several waxes suitable as replacements for paraffin and carnauba waxes.

Primary Application Area: Materials, Chemical

Technology Development Status: Prototype

FIGURES OF MERIT

Value Proposition: In North America, the consumption of wax is around three billion pounds per year, with an associated value in excess of three billion dollars. Markets of waxes are diverse ranging from simple fuel in candles to practical applications such as coating in the paper and packaging industry. Currently, waxes are either petroleum derived or are found in expensive biorenewable feed-stock such as the carnauba palm. This technology offers a new market channel for the utilization of soybean oil to meet many of the application areas of current wax technologies with, in some cases, superior performance.

SHOWCASE SUMMARY

Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab

Showcase Booth #: 524

Website: https://www.iastate.edu

GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES

External Funding to Date: Work on this research was funded by the United Soybean Board (USB).