Carbon Sources for the Future

Numerous adhesives are based on fossil resources but with increasing requirements regarding ecological aspects it becomes important to search for alternatives considering at the same time the economic aspects. Application of renewable compounds seems to be the easiest way but is often in competition with nutrition. This field will be illustrated by examples using plant oils and compounds like lactic acid produced by white biotechnology. Utilization of agricultural waste streams like lignin or poultry feather is the better way. This will be illustrated by the use of goose feather for wood adhesives. But also waste plastics are a proper resource for adhesives raw materials, e.g. synthesis of polyols for polyurethanes. Finally carbon dioxide itself might be used and this will be shown for the example of polyurethane preparation without use of isocyanates and for polycarbonates.