KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Palm Oil Board's (MPOB) researchers have established more than 10 new types of palm-based polyols for application in polymers, specifically polyurethanes which are environmental friendly.
In a statement today, MPOB said the new types of palm-based polyols were resulted from more than two decades of research in developing bio-polyols from natural oils and oleochemicals.
To enhance its research on polyol, MPOB has established three pilot plants with the capacity of 150 litres, 500 litres and 1000 litres to produce palm-based polyols.
MPOB said it had invested about RM2 million for the three pilot plants.
MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the pilot plants had been receiving encouraging response from players.
"Among the players who have used the facilities at the three pilot plants are Magnechem Sdn Bhd, Rovski Sdn Bhd, Rokisar Sdn Bhd l, Techbond Greentech Sdn Bhd and German-Malaysia Institute," he said.
Ahmad Parveez said industry players should explore the polyol pilot plants which are well-equipped with facilities to produce not only palm-based polyols but other products as well such as epoxidised palm oil and dihydroxy stearic acid (DHSA).
The three pilot plants offer facilities including reactants feed tanks, two main reactors for the epoxidation and alcoholysis reactions, settling tank and drying vessel.
The utilities supporting the pilot plant is a cooling tower, hot water boiler, heating oil system and air compressor. Each of the reactors, tanks and vessel are equipped with a motor stirrer.
"The polyol pilot plant facilities at MPOB are capable of producing a maximum of 80 per cent of the total capacity (1,650 liters) for all of the three plants," he added.