This document discusses bio-based solvents and efforts to standardize and certify them. It provides information on current and projected market shares of bio-based solvents compared to petroleum-based solvents. Standards are being developed for determining the bio-based carbon content and performing life cycle assessments of bio-based solvents. Several certification schemes also exist to verify the bio-based content of products. Examples of bio-based solvents are given along with their properties.

1. Bio-Based Solvents
Standardisation
Certification
Integration
www.greenchemistry.net
James Sherwood
james.sherwood@york.ac.uk

2. 2025
2010
2005
Plastic
265 million metric tonnes per year
www.greenchemistry.net
European Commission mandated objectives:
Promote bio-based
product market
Do so using existing
infrastructure
Proportion of
bio-based products
in each market
sector
Lubricant
Solvent
Surfactants
Bio-based solvent market share = 1.5%
Current capacity = 12.5%
20 MMT
http://www.achema.de/de/presse/
http://www.aaechemie.com/html/aae_solvent_information.html
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/lead-market-initiative/biobased-products/#h2-1

3. Performance Bio-based content
Provide data but no threshold At least 25% bio-based carbon
values:
• Polarity
• Volatility
• Colour
HSE Sustainability
www.greenchemistry.net
Bio-based Solvents
FprCEN/TS 16766
• Density
• Viscosity
No harsher than REACH and
GHS/CLP
No extra barriers for bio-based
solvents
LCA according to
ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
(soon to also be a European
standard)

4. Solvent Polarity Density B.P /°C Viscosity /cP
Ethanol Protic (high) 0.79 78 1.1
Butanol Protic (high) 0.81 118 2.5
Glycerol Protic (high) 1.25 290 954
2-MeTHF Medium 0.85 79 0.5
FAME Medium ~0.9 >250 ~4
Dimethyl isosorbide Medium 1.15 >200 ~5
Solketal Protic (high) 1.07 191 11
Limonene Low 0.84 176 0.9
www.greenchemistry.net

5. www.greenchemistry.net

6. http://www.biopreferred.gov/ www.greenchemistry.net

7. www.greenchemistry.net
Minimum bio-based carbon: ≥20%
Total organic carbon: ≥30%
Bio-based carbon content determination
Total bio-based content calculated indirectly
Elemental analysis used to verify composition
Minimum bio-based carbon: ≥20%
Total organic carbon: ≥50%
• ACDV bio-based content analysis certification scheme: www.chimieduvegetal.com/pageLibre000110dd.asp
• DIN CERTCO certification of bio-based products: www.dincertco.de/en/dincertco/produkte_leistungen/
zertifizierung_produkte/umwelt_1/biobasierte_produkte/biobasierte_produkte_mehr_nachhaltigkeit.html
• Vinçotte ‘OK Biobased’ certification scheme: www.okcompost.be/en/recognising-ok-environment-logos/ok-biobased

8. Biocatalytic esterification:
Lipophilic solvents enhance
enzymatic catalysis
> > >
G. Paggiola, A. J. Hunt, C. R. McElroy, J. Sherwood and J. H. Clark, Green Chem., 2014, 16, 2107. www.greenchemistry.net

9. Biginelli reaction:
Tautomerisation of the dicarbonyl
enhances the reaction
J. H. Clark D. J. Macquarrie and J. Sherwood, Chem. Eur. J., 2013, 19, 5174. www.greenchemistry.net

10. Ionic
liquids
Alcohols Polyols
www.greenchemistry.net
Acids
Aprotic
solvents
Amines
Dipolar
aprotics
Hydrocarbon Chlorinated
Nitro
Ethers Ester Ketones
Nitriles
Protic
solvents
Cyrene
James Sherwood
james.sherwood@york.ac.uk

11. γ-Valerolactone Acetone
www.greenchemistry.net
Aprotic solvents:
Protic solvents
Cyrene
Circa
Limonene
p-Cymene
1-Butanol
Methyl laurate
2-MeTHF
Eucalyptol Pennakem
Ethylal
Lambiotte & Cie
Ethyl acetate
Davy/Sasol
Ethanol
2-Propanol
2-Octanol
Arkema
Ethylene glycol
Propylene glycol
Novance/Oleon
Butyric acid
Acetic acid
Glycerol Glycerol formal
Glaconchemie
Lactic acid
Ethyl lactate
Galactic
Solketal
Solvay
Dimethyl isosorbide
Roquette