Professor Seo Young-woong from Hanyang University's Department of Chemical Engineering and his research team developed a technology that creates a source of eco-friendly plastic from waste resources. As the environmental contamination issues that are caused by waste plastic has become serious, the world's interest in disposable plastic and replacement materials for plastic have been increasing. Professor Seo's research team and their eco-friendly plastic material development technology also became one of the answers for the issue.

The research team developed two catalyst development technologies; porous copper catalyst development with low price and high safety, renewable plastic source catalyst development technology. The research team also succeeded in synthesizing furan-based diol, which is known as a source of renewable plastic from organic waste resource materials. This research was conducted with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The research team has developed solid-phase synthesis which inhibits the use of water to synthesize furan-based diol, which is important to secure a catalyst with a high reaction rate by using copper in low temperatures. This overcomes the limitations of the existing method of using expensive jewelry and secures advanced performance of the catalyst and a longer lifetime. Through the 'solid-phase synthesis,' the team also succeeded in catalyst mass producing, securing the technology of creating molding catalysts that can be used in the actual manufacturing process. The research team has already procured its intellectual property rights after applying and registering patents in South Korea and the U.S. for the catalyst technologies.

After, the research team focused on synthesis research of furan-based diol. Using the synthesized catalyst, they proceeded with the catalyst reaction that creates furan-based diol. As a result, they came up with a result that maintains long-term activation with a 100% transference number at a temperature under 100℃. They have also understood the effects regarding various impurities, constructing a catalyst system that can also respond to the change of sources. 

Currently, the research team is conducting research on using price-competitive material to the catalyst reaction, through co-research with companies. The team is also securing throughout the process from source material creation to the catalyst reaction, to get prepared for commercial manufacturing. In particular, the team is working with a research team for the Development of Source Catalyst for CO Conversion Polymer Platform Using Sugar Organic Waste Resources to synthesize renewable plastics. 

The furan-based diol that is created through this research can replace polyol, which is the source material for plastic products such as polyester and polyurethane. The material is therefore evaluated to have eco-friendly characteristics. The research team anticipates that the renewable plastic that uses material they have developed, will be used in people's daily lives.

 Meanwhile, Professor Seo Young-woong's research team has been developing catalyst reactions that create petroleum alternative material and chemical products from biomass materials for several years. The team is also continuing their technology development research in creating renewable plastic material with co-research from Kolon, Aekyung Petrochemical, and other chemical industries.