LSU AgCenter Scientist Looks at Sugar Byproducts for Making Polymers
Story by the LSU AgCenter
BATON ROUGE - An LSU AgCenter scientist is exploring using byproducts of sugar processing to make polymers.
Michael Vincent, a postdoctoral researcher at the Audubon Sugar Institute, has made polymers using aconitic acid derived from molasses and bagasse, the fibrous material left after sugar is extracted from sugarcane. Depending on which chemical reaction is employed, Vincent can make a polyester polymer or a high-strength resin.