{"title":"Advancing sustainability and circular economy: a review on low-carbon footprint epoxy systems for a greener future","authors":"Akhila Raman, Archana Vinod, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sathish Kumar Palaniappan, Appukuttan Saritha, Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Suchart Siengchin","doi":"10.1007/s42823-026-01121-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the increasing environmental concerns for petroleum-based epoxy resins, the development of low-carbon epoxy systems has increased. The traditional epoxy resins are extremely carbon intensive because of the high curing energy and base material as petroleum derived product. Thus, sustainable alternatives are being studied such as green curing methods, bio-based hardeners, solvent free processes, renewable reinforcements and bio-based epoxies from vegetable oils, lignin and sugars. The current review highlights an extensive investigation into major emission sources that arise during the production and manufacturing of epoxy resins and composites. Various emissions from fossil fuel-based precursors, hardeners, process-related energy consumption, and reinforcing substances have been analysed in detail. Furthermore, various novel approaches to achieve low-emission epoxy resins by employing bio-derived precursors, renewable resources, green and bio-based curing agents, energy-saving and solvent-free manufacturing processes, as well as natural or recycled reinforcements have been reviewed. Besides, the review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research on the LCA of bio- versus petroleum-based epoxy systems, compares their carbon footprints and energy consumption, and presents case studies and sustainability databases. Circular strategies of epoxy resins are another significant focus of the paper, as it highlights the importance of recyclability and reprocessability of thermosets, dynamic covalent and vitrimeric epoxy networks, and epoxy resins’ degradation and recycling methods.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":506,"journal":{"name":"Carbon Letters","volume":"36 5","pages":"2099 - 2129"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Carbon Letters","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42823-026-01121-7","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
With the increasing environmental concerns for petroleum-based epoxy resins, the development of low-carbon epoxy systems has increased. The traditional epoxy resins are extremely carbon intensive because of the high curing energy and base material as petroleum derived product. Thus, sustainable alternatives are being studied such as green curing methods, bio-based hardeners, solvent free processes, renewable reinforcements and bio-based epoxies from vegetable oils, lignin and sugars. The current review highlights an extensive investigation into major emission sources that arise during the production and manufacturing of epoxy resins and composites. Various emissions from fossil fuel-based precursors, hardeners, process-related energy consumption, and reinforcing substances have been analysed in detail. Furthermore, various novel approaches to achieve low-emission epoxy resins by employing bio-derived precursors, renewable resources, green and bio-based curing agents, energy-saving and solvent-free manufacturing processes, as well as natural or recycled reinforcements have been reviewed. Besides, the review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research on the LCA of bio- versus petroleum-based epoxy systems, compares their carbon footprints and energy consumption, and presents case studies and sustainability databases. Circular strategies of epoxy resins are another significant focus of the paper, as it highlights the importance of recyclability and reprocessability of thermosets, dynamic covalent and vitrimeric epoxy networks, and epoxy resins’ degradation and recycling methods.
期刊介绍：
Carbon Letters aims to be a comprehensive journal with complete coverage of carbon materials and carbon-rich molecules. These materials range from, but are not limited to, diamond and graphite through chars, semicokes, mesophase substances, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphenes, carbon blacks, activated carbons, pyrolytic carbons, glass-like carbons, etc. Papers on the secondary production of new carbon and composite materials from the above mentioned various carbons are within the scope of the journal. Papers on organic substances, including coals, will be considered only if the research has close relation to the resulting carbon materials. Carbon Letters also seeks to keep abreast of new developments in their specialist fields and to unite in finding alternative energy solutions to current issues such as the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer. The renewable energy basics, energy storage and conversion, solar energy, wind energy, water energy, nuclear energy, biomass energy, hydrogen production technology, and other clean energy technologies are also within the scope of the journal. Carbon Letters invites original reports of fundamental research in all branches of the theory and practice of carbon science and technology.
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