Basic Technology for the Conversion of Renewable Raw Materials

The total annual biomass production on our planet is estimated to be 170 billion tons and consists of roughly 75% carbohydrates, 20% lignin, and 5% of other substances such as oils and fats, proteins, terpenes, alkaloids, etc. Table 8.1 translates this into absolute numbers. 

Of this total biomass production, only 3.5% or a little less than 6 billion tons is presently being used for human needs, distributed as 

The remainder of the biomass is used in natural ecosystems or is lost through burning or natural mineralization processes [1]. This material is in part available for the production of biobased products. 

There are in principal four different methods to use biomass as a resource for biobased products. They differ from each other in the degree of chemical processing involved. 

1) Nature already produces the desired structures, and isolation of these components mostly requires only physical methods without chemical modification. Examples comprise polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, alginate, pectin, agar, chitin, and inuUn), disaccharides (sucrose and lactose), and triglycerides, lecithin, natural rubber, gelatin, flavors and fragrances, etc. 

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