Exploring waste cooking oils as renewable feedstock for alkyd resin production

Abstract

The increasing demand for environmentally sustainable materials has increased interest in renewable raw materials for polymer synthesis. Among these sources, waste cooking oil (WCO) has been considered a promising alternative due to its abundance, low cost and rich triglyceride content suitable for polymeric applications. This review examines the use of WCO in the synthesis of alkyd resins, highlighting significant improvements in raw material processing, resin formulation development and resulting physicochemical properties. The addition of WCO not only addresses waste disposal concerns but also offers a path toward the development of high-performance, bio-based coating materials. The effects of oil pretreatment, polyol selection and reaction parameters on resin properties are discussed in this study. Comparison with conventional alkyds shows that WCO-derived resins exhibit competitive drying behavior, mechanical stability and adhesion properties, although they have some limitations in oxidative resistance. The review also examines recent innovations aimed at improving the quality and durability of WCO-based alkyds, with the aim of positioning them as sustainable candidates in the coatings industry.