Day 6 began with an early exit from our Amsterdam hotel. We loaded our suitcases on to the bus and headed to the Nouryon Research and Development center in Deventer. Nouryon is a chemical company known for producing many polymers, including organic peroxides, curing agents, reactor additives, and metal alkyls. Once we arrived on site, we got a security card before we were greeted with a short safety presentation, followed by a presentation on Nouryon’s sustainability initiatives and practices. Then we took a break for lunch, where we were provided an assortment of different sandwiches.
In the afternoon we visited some of Nouryon’s different lab spaces. Our first stop was the ecotoxicology lab. There, Nouryon tests the effects of different chemicals that are brought into the lab on small organisms, using those effects to predict whether the product would effect the animals and the environment if used commercially. I thought it was super interesting to see the lab space littered with various glassware filled with chemicals, water, and organisms. Testing for the ecological impacts of products like conditioner, which was the example product we were shown, is something that I would not even think about, but after visiting the ecotoxicology lab I realized just how important that step of the manufacturing process is.
Next, my group went up to the biodegradable lab, which similarly tests how biodegradable various chemicals are by taking real nearby water samples with microorganisms, and measuring the change in pressure from O2 gas concentration as the microorganisms break down the chemical (or don’t). We also learned about the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and how chemicals are tested to OECD standards, which then allow those chemicals to be commercially sold in the 32 member countries of the OECD. This makes the lives of both scientists and producers easier, as it does not require country-specific biodegradable testing, which allows companies to be environmentally friendly without committing too many resources to the testing stage.
We finished the site visit with a tour of Nouryon’s chamber where they test the pressure and temperature conditions needed to preserve chemicals so as to avoid explosions, unwanted reactions, and injuries. We then headed back to the conference room, where we were given a presentation on plastic recycling. This presentation highlighted Nouryon’s new product, Perkadoxic PM-60ST-GR, which can adjust recycled plastic melt flow index. By allowing the MFI of recycled plastic to be adjusted, creating any polymer out of that recycled material becomes plausible. While some of the chemistry was beyond my current knowledge, what I did understand was incredibly compelling and inspiring, particularly in the context of advancing sustainability.
After some closing remarks, we boarded the bus for the two hour journey to Rotterdam. By the time we arrived at the hostel, I was exhausted and decided to rest for the evening, but I am excited for what the next week in Rotterdam has in store!