Paint and Coatings Industry News

Main News Page

ADM Says Corn-Based Isosorbide Offers Potential for Use in Coatings, Other Products

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) announced that it has begun offering isosorbide, an industrial ingredient made from corn and a potential alternative to chemicals used in coatings and other products, under its Evolution Chemicals™ product line.

The company said isosorbide is a potential alternative to the petroleum-based chemical Bisphenol A, used in the manufacture of epoxy coatings and plastics. ADM said it is the first company in North America to offer the renewable material on a commercial scale.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health have expressed concerns about potential health effects associated with BPA, ADM said.

ADM said Isosorbide also can be used in a range of applications, including polyesters for inks, toners, and powder coatings; polyurethanes for coatings and foams; epoxy resins for paints; and detergents and other consumer and industrial products.

The company said it is offering isosorbide in a technical grade (97% pure) and a polymer grade (99% pure).

Robert Broomham, business director, ADM Industrial Chemicals, said isosorbide “offers manufacturers a renewable alternative to the traditional chemicals found in many products.” He added that “with increased interest in environmental improvement, we see growing opportunity to expand our portfolio of renewable industrial products.

“ADM’s research and development expertise and our access to agricultural feedstocks enable us to develop ingredients that can serve as replacements for traditional chemicals,” Broomham said.

ADM’s Evolution Chemicals line of bio-based industrial ingredients is derived from renewable resources such as corn and soybeans. The product line includes propylene glycol, glycerin, industrial ethanol, ethylene glycol, and isosorbide.

The company’s production of industrial chemicals dates back more than a century, when the Daniels Linseed Company began selling linseed oil; the product continues to find uses in paints and varnishes. The company’s Industrial Chemicals group currently produces polymers, solvents and starches for industrial and consumer applications such as paints, plastics, household cleaners, and pharmaceuticals.

ADM, based in Decatur, Ill., said it operates the world’s largest crop origination and transportation network. Sales for the year ended June 30 were $62 billion.

More information: www.adm.com.

Comment from Robin Roi, (8/27/2010, 3:57 PM)

Comment from Robin Roi, (8/27/2010, 3:59 PM)

great, so now, we not only make all our food products out of corn, we can make all of our industrial products out of corn. We can essentially stop growing everything except corn, Iowa should be happy.