Bangi, Malaysia -– Researchers at the National University of Malaysia have developed polyols from palm kernel oil or coconut oil, according to the University.
Khairiah Badri, a senior researcher at the university said she had developed a two-step process that makes polyols using polyesterification followed by polycondensation.
Badri described a process where: refined, bleached and deodorised palm kernel oil and/or refined, bleached and deodorised coconut oil is added to a mixture of a polyhydric alcohol or a combination of polyhydric alcohols, with or without a polysaccharide alcohol and a catalyst.
Badri said oleochemical products from palm kernel oil and coconut oil, could be a useful alternative to petroleum-based.
She said that biodegradable polymers have widely been used in the pharmaceutical industry, such as suture use, wound-dressings, surgical implants and medicine-delivering system.
"But there are still some use limitations, either due to high production cost or low performance,” Khairiah added.
"This performance can be achieved by the chemical and physical modification of these materials through a combination of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials," she said.
