Cyrene: Applications of a new solvent made from cellulose

What is it about?

Cyrene, a new bio-based solvent, is used to replace chemicals with reproductive toxicity. Cyrene is renewable, less flammable than many solvents, stable, and has no known toxicity issues. Compared to equivalent solvents, air pollution (if incinerated after use) is lower with no NOx of SOx released.

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Why is it important?

Renewable (bio-based) chemicals alleviate society's dependance on oil, and the market is growing for these greener products. Solvents are an important class of chemicals. For example, they are found in paints and are used to produce medicines. Therefore solvents such as Cyrene offer the promise of a sustainable future for the chemical industry and consumer products alike.