Scientists from the Krakow University of Technology (PK) and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic are jointly implementing a project dealing with polyelectrolytes based on renewable itaconic acid. 

This acid is a compound that is currently used as an additive material in the production of rubbers and other polymers, including those used to soften water, e.g. in washing agents or dishwashing products.

The project received funding under the CEUS-UNISONO competition, organized by the National Science Center and research support agencies from the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia.

Dr Eng. Szczepan Bednarz, the project manager, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology explains, that developing technologies for obtaining polymers from renewable raw materials as an alternative to petrochemical polymers, has been very topical in recent years for ecological reasons in terms of the circular economy.