The startup that creates ink from waste oils

As often happens, an intuition was enough. Simple but brilliant. Because the molecules used inside the printing inks (whose European demand is one million tons per year, of which 250,000 with inks formulated based on vegetable solvents) are very similar to waste oil derivatives. Hence the idea of ​​replacing them. Solving two problems at the same time. That is, by converting potentially polluting products into raw materials. With surprising results: the solvent power it turned out to be far superior and the printed products turned out to be the 35-40% more sustainable.

Is called IsusChem the innovative startup – spin-off of the Chemical Sciences department of Federico II – born, precisely, with the aim of enhancing the products derived from waste oils on an industrial level. In 2019 he started the first, important production. Practice the one that is spreading under the name of green chemistryan expression that encompasses all the approaches aimed at making chemical processes safe and sustainable from an environmental point of view, in terms of a drastic reduction in pollution.

“And we started from here, from the idea that used frying oils can be a resource rather than a problem – confirms Vincenzo Benessere, CEO of IsusChem – and that they contain ahigh concentration of vegetable oils used, the modifications of which produce substances such as azelaic acid and pelargonic acid. The former was already used in pharmacological and textile fields, the second seemed to serve no purpose. And instead we realized that a synthesis of this substance is useful for the production process of printing inks offset. With significant economic savings in production and a lower environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gases emitted”.

After all, it is estimated that 35-40% of the formulation of a printing ink comes from a vegetable-based raw material which, as Benessere underlines, “consumes soil and competes with the cultivation of food products and is therefore one renewable raw material but not ethically and environmentally sustainable“. And so using substances that derive from waste oils reduces the environmental impact, increases the sustainability of the inks and, as the CEO of the startup points out, “it makes a product such as used frying oil more noble, which would otherwise be destroyed in heat“.

Green technology

The record year of Cyrkl, the startup that revolutionizes the management of industrial waste

by Gabriella Rocco

30 November 2022

More: in this way also the packaging on which the ink is used becomes more sustainable. Enough to trace a new path, followed with the construction – three years ago – of a plant to produce the new family of solvents on a semi-industrial scale, in partnership – Marcianisein the Caserta area – with Italian Printing Inks (IPINKS), a company with a long family tradition, active in the printing and graphic arts sector, awarded at the latest edition of Smau Napoli.

“It all started because, as chemists and academics, we wanted to make a concrete contribution by favoring a new approach in the conversion of waste biomass, especially in an area where the theme of eco-sustainability has always been crucial for territorial progress and fight against eco-mafia”. explains Vincenzo again, who – accompanied by Martino Di Seriowho proposed the spin-off for the Chemical Sciences department – coordinated the Metor and NICL research groups.

A story of competence and passion in the shadow of Vesuvius: they got involved Gigliola Cesariowhich deals with communication and internationalization of the brand, Maria Elena Cucciolito, Massimo Melchiorre, Francesco Ruffo, Marty Laurent and Roberto Esposito.

“Ours – they explain in chorus – is a new way of producing because it is completely integrated into the lines of sustainable chemistry and the circular economy: we use renewable raw materialsotherwise intended for thermal destructionand we don’t have harmful emissions in the industrial process, we have no by-products and we place products on the market from materials destined for incineration”.

Two Isuschem patents, which certify the effectiveness of the project: the production of products for surfaces (inks, varnishes and paints) and for the cosmetic sector (hand creams, sunscreens, hair products) has been launched, the future these parts looks decidedly green. And one has already been developed as well very low cost recyclable catalyst which supplies esters to make ultraviolet inks.

The decalogue

The manifesto on the circular future

December 19, 2022

“On the other hand – Benessere hangs up – there is no circularity without the reuse of waste, without a reduction in the energy used by a process, without a true circular production of substances which will then be placed on the market. green chemistry it will increasingly be one of the main drivers of a new economy, more just on a social and environmental level”.

The market seems to be interested. “The major current customers are Italians with a certain interest in Campania,” explains Benessere. “And after all we are going in a direction in which industrial synergies are well rooted in the territory and above all ‘proximity’ markets, because we are well aware of the fact that even transport has a particular impact on overall greenhouse gas emissions“.

And the history of startups like IsusChem seems to confirm the ever greener trend of new Made in Italy companies, with excellent performance in Campania: here the number of innovative startups has broken through to 1400 and gives the region third place on the podium, behind Lombardy And Lazio. With exponential growth in recent years. “Campania is now a point of reference for innovation in the Italian system. – confirms the regional councilor for the branch, Valeria Fascione – Ours is a fertile and dynamic territory, capable of working on challenging technological trajectories. And the competitiveness of our startups, which focus heavily on sustainability and whose number is growing exponentially, are increasingly attracting large multinationals”.