GREEN FRIX
Green chemistry by design
Our plasma process fully meets 10 of the 12 principles of green chemistry and partly meets the other two. These are the parameters that make the difference.
0
metal catalyst, radical initiator or solvent
1
reactor for both hydrogenation and polymerization
100 °C
maximum temperature, with no external heating
Electric
plasma powered by electricity alone: no steam, thermal oil or burner
Instant
shutdown: the reaction stops as soon as the power is cut
Live
viscosity control at 40 °C, so each run stops on target
Because electricity is the only process energy, the footprint of our products falls as the grid gets greener. The Walloon electricity mix is already about 75 % low-carbon.
Conventional route vs. plasma
A hydrogenated, then bodied vegetable oil usually takes two separate processes and a metal catalyst. Conditions shown are typical industry orders of magnitude.
Step
Conventional route
Green Frix plasma
Hydrogenation
Nickel catalyst, about 150–220 °C, pressurized hydrogen in an autoclave
Plasma under hydrogen at reduced pressure, no catalyst, no external heating
Polymerization
Heat bodying at about 280–300 °C for several hours, or peroxide initiators
Same reactor, same plasma, no initiator
Separation
Catalyst filtration, spent filter earth, removal of residual nickel
Polishing filtration, no filter aid
Solvents
Depending on the route
None
Energy
Heat, often from fossil sources
Electricity only, no heating
Renewable from the start
Every product is built on vegetable triglycerides such as rapeseed, sunflower or linseed oil. No petroleum-based monomer is added: the plasma links the fatty-acid chains directly to one another. When an antioxidant is needed, we use natural tocopherol (vitamin E).
The 12 principles, one by one
● Met ◐ Partly met
01
Prevent waste
● Met
No spent catalyst, no nickel-laden filter cake, no purification effluent.
02
Atom economy
● Met
Addition reactions: the reactants end up in the product, with no stoichiometric by-product.
03
Less hazardous synthesis
● Met
No nickel, peroxide or solvent. Hydrogen is the only hazardous input, used at reduced pressure in a closed reactor.
04
Safer products
● Met
Cross-linked triglycerides with no metal residue.
05
Safer solvents and auxiliaries
● Met
No solvent, no separation agent, no filter aid.
06
Energy efficiency
● Met
Cold plasma heats the electrons, not the oil. No heating element, thermal oil or steam.
07
Renewable feedstocks
● Met
Vegetable oils as the backbone; natural tocopherol as the antioxidant.
08
Reduce derivatives
● Met
Two reactions in one reactor: no intermediate to isolate, store or purify.
09
Catalysis
◐ Partly met
Plasma electrons activate the double bonds directly, with no catalyst or stoichiometric reagent.
10
Design for degradation
◐ Partly met
Cross-linking slows biodegradation, the trade-off for durability in use. Test data per product on request.
11
Real-time analysis
● Met
Viscosity at 40 °C is monitored during treatment, which stops at the target value.
12
Inherently safer chemistry
● Met
No autoclave, no oil heated to 300 °C. The reaction stops the moment the power is cut.