Dear all,

Please find herewith a partner search request from Turkey concerning the current call for IAPP.

GENERAL INFORMATION
NAME OF ORGANISATION*: KİMYA ENDÜSTRİ MERKEZİ LTD. ŞTİ.
TYPE OF ORGANISATION*: SME/ SME association 

CONTACT PERSON
NAME* TUNCER ŞEN
COUNTRY MERSİN-TURKEY
ADDRESS Mersin-Tarsus Organize Sanayi Bölgesi 8.cad. No:1 Huzurkent
TEL* 324 676 45 35
FAX 324 676 45 36
E-MAIL* tuncer.sen@kem.com.tr

TYPE OF PARTNER SEARCH*: FP7 SPECIFIC CALL
CONSORTIUM: Create a new consortium
POSITION WITHIN CONSORTIUM: As a coordinator
IF FP7 RELEVANT CALL:
AREA OF INTEREST : PEOPLE
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)



CALL DETAILS
CALL IDENTIFICATION (according to WP): FP7-PEOPLE-IAPP-2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30.November.2007
CLOSURE DATE: 25.March.2008
PROJECT INFORMATION
ACRONYME & TITLE: The Production of Cellulose Ether from Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua)

SUMMARY*:
Nowadays, there is a growing interest to produce biopolymers for technical purposes. In recent years, natural chemicals have attracted renewed attention as raw materials for the preparation of original polymeric materials with the objectives to replace petro-chemical based polymers. Natural-based biopolymers have many advantages compared with polymers prepared from petroleum-based monomers.
Research has focused on alternative, non-petroleum based source of polyols. The objective of this research proposal is to investigate new routes to cellulose ethers based on natural (novel plant) such as Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua) taking into account a large number of the green chemistry concepts. Before we will obtain Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua). The properties of CMC and carboxymethylethyl cellulose (CMHEC) are largely depent on the degree of substitution (DS) of carboxymethyl (CM) groups on the anhydroglucose unit in the cellulose. The CM content in CMC and CMHEC can be determined by several analytical procedures. These include titrimetry, gravimetry, and colorimetry. More recently, the DS of CMC has been determined with proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Determination of alkoxyl substitution in cellulose and starch athers has been reported using Zeisel reaction with gas chromatography.
-- Harnup (Ceratonia Siliqua)+reactans= Carboxy Methyl Cellulose(CMC)
CMC+Reactants(Etherfication)=Cellulose ether(CE)
Methyl Cloride+Ethylene Oxide = Methyl Cellulose (MC)


PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Strategic impacts for the SME manufacturers include: realisation of maximum value at minimum time through knowledge management; capability to operate flexible and interdisciplinary product teams as well as testing and validating cooperative and strategic partnership arrangements, creating new business opportunities. A positive contribution to sustainability is also expected as overproduction can be avoided (products manufactured on demand) and due to longer product lifespan.
The results are expected to substantially reduce the cost of cellulose ether production step and improve its environmental performance.


KEYWORDS: carob, cellulose ether, chemistry, Ceratonia Siliqua,polymer


PARTNER SOUGHT - Any country

EXPERTISE REQUESTED*:

Our company has expertise in construction chemicals and we are at the moment applying our expertise in new natural based products and processes. We are therefore interested in collaborating with Europe laboratories to our areas of expertise. To that end, we are mainly interested in joining forces with abroad partners who are experts in one or more of the following fields:
-Chemist
-Chemical Engineer
-Environment Engineer
*knowledge in chemical analysis,
*interest in spectroscopic methods with organic chemistry,
*knowledge in polymer chemistry (adhesives),
*enjoy working in interdiscipline


ROLE:  Research
ORGANISATION TYPE: Public body (Research organisation /university /lab)

HOW MANY PARTNERS ARE REQUIRED? 1

MJ