Green Antipolymerant

This project will protect and further advance an existing business that has been
developed in Bradford, but which is now at risk due to regulatory pressures.
The project involves the pre-competitive development of a new antipolymerant
product for sale specifically to the global styrene monomer industry. The new product
will have the advantages of no human or ecotoxicity.
Nufarm needs to defend its strong market share in this area and in doing so can grow
in terms ofboth volume and profitability. Thus it will protect jobs which are currently
at risk as well as providing the means for growth in a sustainable market.
This is a high technology project that will employ skills available within the Yorkshire
region to create sustainability in a business which brings wealth into the region
because it is almost 100% export business.
Nufarm has discovered through its Bradford based research a potential new,
non-toxic, chemical component that retards the polymerisation of styrene. A patent
application has been filed and funding is now sought to assist with the next aspects of
pre-competitive development, namely;
Development of a clean, efficient synthesis route and subsequent scale-up and
optimization of production; Product definition, formulation of the active component to
create a saleable product; Generation of the product launch package. This includes an
understanding of the mode of action, physchem and toxicity; Commercial feasibility,
to include customer plant trials