[LUM#1] Wood used to make plastic

[LUM Magazine] - Published on November 3, 2015 in Science and Society

Everyone is searching, but so far they are the only ones to have found a natural, non-toxic alternative to bisphenol A. Thanks to the work of chemists at the Charles Gerhardt Institute, plastic is fantastic.

It was everywhere: in food cans, soda cans, paint, and baby bottles. And yet, its impact on health is well established: even in very low doses, it disrupts our hormones. Bisphenol A has been banned in food packaging since January¹, 2015. The problem: no suitable replacement has been found. In the meantime, manufacturers are using two substitutes, bisphenol F and bisphenol S, which are close cousins. So close, in fact, that they too are suspected of being harmful to health.

A unique alternative made in Montpellier

“The only solution is to find a compound that has the same properties as bisphenol A—impact-resistant, heat-resistant, and chemical-resistant—but isn’t toxic,” explains Sylvain Caillol, a researcher at the Charles Gerhardt Institute. This challenge has researchers around the world working on it, and Sylvain Caillol began tackling it back in 2008.“I worked for 10 years in the chemical industry, so I knew that bisphenol A was classified as a toxic compound and that sooner or later it would be banned.”

When he joined the ICGM, the pioneering chemist quickly launched research to find a viable alternative. The goal: to replace bisphenol with a non-hazardous, bio-based compound. “We knew that what gave bisphenol A its useful properties was its benzene ring. So we searched nature for molecules that possessed this same benzene ring.” And the researchers discovered the ideal candidate: vanillin.

Natural and eco-friendly

This molecule, derived from wood lignin, has exactly the same properties as bisphenol A, without any of its drawbacks.“Vanillin has been used for a very long time in the food industry—particularly to flavor yogurt—and it is highly biodegradable in the human body and has no adverse health effects,” the chemist points out. Another advantage: vanillin is an eco-friendly alternative.“It is derived from a renewable material, and its production has no environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it is a resource that can be sourced locally,” explains Sylvain Caillol.

These arguments have struck a chord with manufacturers: several companies have expressed interest. After successfully testing vanillin, they are ready to move forward with large-scale production. Production could begin as early as“within a few years, if all goes well.”

Keywords: Chemistry, LUM#1, LUM Magazine, Plastic, Research, Health