Decarbonizing DoD Fleets Using Bio-Based Carbon Black from Domestic Agricultural Waste 

Members: Origin Materials

Project dates: 2023 - 2026

Origin Materials successfully tested various agricultural residues, such as woody biomass, soybean molasses, and bagasse to convert into bio-based, low-carcinogen carbon black. Samples were provided to numerous partners for additional testing, which showed promising functional improvements over fossil fuel-based tires and rubber goods. This project validated the processing methodology for bio-based carbon black at commercial scale, and included a techno-economic analysis to evaluate producing carbon black with the excess capacity of biomass generated by American farms.  

More than 15 million metric tons of carbon black is produced every year, going into a wide range of products, such as tires and other rubber products, inks, polymers, and coatings. Origin’s chemocatalytic process doesn’t require heavy fuel oils, thereby decoupling America’s need for carbon black from global suppliers and creating a domestic supply chain. This research was a significant step toward commercially available bio-based carbon black.  

Funding source: U.S. Department of Defense