Sustainability and Cost Tradeoffs of Epoxidized Sucrose Soyate: A Bio-Based Thermoset Resin

In this study, we assess the sustainability and cost of a bio-based thermoset resin derived from soybean oil, Epoxidized Sucrose Soyate (ESS). This bio–based resin has gained considerable attention due to its high functionality, significant mechanical properties and promise to provide a potentially sustainable alternative to petroleum-based thermoset resins in a variety of applications. We carried out a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of ESS and a functionally similar petroleum-based commercial resin. We model the large scale production of ESS using laboratory scale experimental data (with 98% conversion) using Aspen plus software, and use the results to assess the sustainability and cost of producing ESS resin in a commercial scale. The LCA results demonstrated that Epoxidized Sucrose Soyate (ESS) is more sustainable and environmentally beneficial compared to the conventional petroleum-based resin and thus can be a viable alternative. ESS displayed almost a 93% reduction in global warming. In addition to conducting LCA, we assess the sustainability of ESS according to green design principles including atom economy, use of renewable resources and process efficiency. To assess the economic feasibility of commercial production of ESS commercially, we perform techno-economic analysis (TEA). Coupling TEA with process simulation allows us to detect hotspots in the production process and optimize it to make the resin more competitive in the market. Moreover, we conducted sensitivity analysis to address uncertainty in the selling price of the ESS resin. The combination of environmental and cost performance data of the ESS provides critical decision-making information regarding the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of this resin.