Biobased Solutions for Environmental Sustainability: From Jatropha Oil to Waterborne Polyurethane Sariah Saalah*
Chemical Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
*s_sariah[at]ums.edu.my
Abstract
Conventional polyurethane adhesives and coatings often contain significant amounts of organic solvents, which contribute to environmental pollution and pose health concerns. Growing awareness of these issues, coupled with increasingly strict environmental regulations, has accelerated the shift toward water-based alternatives. Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) systems have gained prominence as they can deliver high performance while significantly reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. In parallel, renewable, non-edible feedstocks are being explored as a viable route toward sustainable materials, aligning with the global drive to integrate agricultural resources into environmentally responsible industrial applications. This presentation highlights the development of bio-based WPUs derived from jatropha oil-based polyols (JOL), offering a renewable alternative to petroleum-derived polyols without competing with food resources. Through chemical modification, jatropha oil was converted into polyols suitable for WPU synthesis, enabling stable, water-dispersible formulations. The resulting jatropha-based WPUs exhibited excellent film-forming ability, mechanical strength, water repellence, and thermal stability, with renewable content exceeding 60%. By replacing solvent-based systems with high-performance, bio-based WPUs, this work demonstrates how renewable resources can be effectively integrated into advanced coating technologies. The approach not only reduces dependence on fossil-derived materials but also contributes to environmental sustainability through lower VOC emissions and increased use of plant-based content.
