ERROR 1
ERROR 1
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
ERROR 2
Password and Confirm password must match.
If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)
ERROR 2
ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.
Alkyd resins are polyesters commonly used as binding agents in paints and coatings. When exposed to air, the polyesters cross-link with the assistance of a metal catalyst, in particular cobalt complexes. The process assists in curing the coating to a smooth finish. In an effort to avoid toxicity associated with the metal catalysts, a team led by Enrique Herrero Acero of the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology has for the first time shown that enzymes are up to the task of catalyzing the cross-linking (Green Chem., DOI: 10.1039/c2gc36666e). The researchers selected a laccase enzyme already used in food and other industries to snatch oxygen from the air and oxidize 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The oxidized mediator molecule then extracts hydrogen atoms from polyester double bonds to instigate the cross-linking. The development comes at a time when consumer awareness is pressing the coatings industry to develop low-toxicity green alternatives to cobalt catalysts. Enzyme-based curing could help manufacturers avoid anticipated new regulations that would force them to register, classify, and label cobalt-containing coatings.
Join the conversation
Contact the reporter
Submit a Letter to the Editor for publication
Engage with us on Twitter