A sustainable flame retardant derived from corn steep liquor
Certain phosphorus compounds are highly effective at suppressing fires, which is why they are widely used in flame retardants. Phosphorus, however, is a finite resource. Estimates suggest it could be depleted within the next 50–300 years. That is why, as part of the ScaleAmP project, a research team is working to extract phosphorus from corn steep liquor, a byproduct of starch production.
Researchers are developing a sustainable flame retardant derived from corn steep liquor, a byproduct of starch production. Phytic acid, also known as phytate, found in plants like corn, wheat, soybeans, and rice, serves as the active ingredient in this flame retardant. Phytic acid possesses strong potential as a flame retardant, particularly in the form of ammonium phytates, which form an insulating carbon layer when heated, cutting off the fire's oxygen supply.
However, pure phytic acid is ineffective and has a low pH, making it incompatible with most materials. Therefore, researchers need to identify the best amine to formulate a synergistic compound with phosphorus. Ammonium phytates obtained through the researchers' process were compounded into wood-plastic composite (WPC) test specimens, which were then subjected to standard flame retardant performance tests such as the UL 94 flammability test and limiting oxygen index test.
The best ammonium phytate formulation tested demonstrated flame retardant performance comparable to a commercially available reference product. The next step for researchers is to scale up production and diversify feedstock sources beyond corn steep liquor, such as rice or wheat, to further refine the purification process. The industrial-scale use of this sustainable flame retardant depends on factors such as reliable supply, ease of processing, flame retardant performance, and price.
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