Researchers at the University of Louisville in Kentucky have pioneered a method to repurpose biodiesel production waste from soybeans into a material suitable for 3D printing. The findings were shared in a peer reviewed journal focused on biological resources and bioproducts.
The team devised a process that transforms organic non-glycerol fractions from soy-derived biodiesel waste into copolymers capable of forming printer-ready filaments.
MONG, the mixture left after soybean oil is split into methyl esters and glycerol, contains non-glycerol free fatty acids, triglycerides, and various organic residues. This work examines the potential of those leftovers as a feedstock for copolymer synthesis used in thermoplastic 3D printing.
Researchers analyzed soy MONG and assessed its viability as a raw material for copolymer production. A key focus was increasing thermal stability through two pretreatment strategies: an acid pretreatment alone and a dual acid plus peroxide approach.
The resulting stabilized paste exhibits higher crystallinity and yields low molecular weight fatty acids, which are favorable for copolymerizing with common thermoplastic polymers used in additive manufacturing.
This advancement offers a pathway to decrease the buildup of non-glycerol organic matter generated during soy biodiesel production and divert it from landfills into useful manufacturing material.
Earlier studies in related areas explored other waste streams, such as fats from poultry, for unconventional energy storage applications, illustrating the broader interest in converting agro-industrial wastes into functional materials.