Acting as the membership and policy voice for Ohio soybean farmers, the Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) decided to create a scholarship program to support students interested in advocating for the future of soybeans. OSA’s inaugural $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Lauren Mellott of Butler, Ohio for the 2022-2023 academic year. Lauren is a sophomore at The Ohio State University studying agriscience education. In addition to being a Student and Young Adult member of OSA, Lauren… Read More

Airable is cooking up carbonated soy-based products. Carbonates are used to produce polyurethane, which (as you’ve read before in this space) has a slew of applications (foams, fibers, coatings, etc.). However, traditional carbonates rely on starting materials (isocyanate reactants, to be precise) that are extremely reactive, powerful irritants that can cause marked inflammation. Workers in industrial settings have experienced health issues ranging from cold-like symptoms to severe asthma (and reportedly even asthma-related deaths). In addition… Read More

This week in the lab, R&D Chemist Ethan Springer has been working on synthesizing a soy-based compostable polyol. Polyols are used to produce polyurethanes and polyesters, which have a multitude of different uses: coatings and cushions, foams and furniture, belts and bedding…even electrical components! The global market for polyols is already enormous and is expected to reach $34 billion by 2024. However, conventional polyols (synthesized from petrochemical sources) have environmental impacts. As a result,… Read More

  Dylan Karis never knew that soybeans could be so versatile, that their potential applications go way beyond vegetable oil and tofu. That is, until he became Airable’s lead chemist. He joined the Airable team in 2020, bringing a PhD in chemistry and a whole lot of experience synthesizing polymers. Now he gets to apply all that knowledge to work that is less academic and more focused on real-world utilization. He’s an advocate of a… Read More

This week in the lab, Connor Young and Trevor Holm have been working on a soy-based all-purpose cleaner. All-purpose cleaners are meant to remove stains, dirt, and grease without damaging surfaces. However, while surfaces may remain intact, traditional all-purpose cleaners present hazards to humans, pets, and the environment. These cleaning agents usually include harmful chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and sodium hydroxide—and even formaldehyde and butyl cellosolve (a neurotoxin). The soy-based formulation provides a green… Read More