Bio-based

There are a number of factors that favor the use of natural polymers as a source for polymer production. The concerns of environmental pollution, tensions in the Persian Gulf countries regarding oil, the fear of a possible future depletion of oil, etc., give credence to the move toward a bio-based material policy [8,21]. The... 

NEW Bio-based and biomimetic materials their properties and uses (Section 8.22)... 

Bio-based materials are materials that are taken from or made from natural materials in living things. Examples include packing pellets made from corn and soybeans, polylactic acid (a polymer used to make plastic packaging), and various kinds of pharmaceuticals. 

Production of hydrogen and its derivatives from bio-based raw materials has also been a subject of much research. Several reports can be found on the photocatalytic reforming of biomass to hydrogen [14]. 

In contrast to specifying to suppliers what chemicals or materials are restricted, it is useful to specify exactly what chemicals and materials are desired. Once a material or chemical is well characterized, and it is considered benign with respect to human and environmental health, it can be added to a preferred or positive list (i.e., P-list). For example, a textile manufacturer may source certified organic cotton, or polyester made with antimony-free catalysts, to develop a product line based on these fibres. Or a cleaning product formulator may seek bio-based solvents or rapidly biodegradable surfactants consistent with their product development objectives. 

HMF is an important versatile sugar derivative and is a key intermediate between bio-based carbohydrate chemistry and petroleum based industrial organic chemistry (1, 2). The most coimnon feedstock for HMF is fructose and reactions are carried out in water-based solvent systems using acid catalysis (3,4). HMF is unstable in water at low pH and breaks down to form levulinic acid and formic acid, resulting in an expensive HMF recovery process. In strongly polar organic co-solvents, such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), levuhnic acid formation is reduced and HMF yields are improved (5). 

Synthetics, Mineral Oils, and Bio-Based Lubricants Chemistry and Technology, edited by Leslie R. Rudnick Alcoholic Fuels, edited by Shelley Minteer Bubbles, Drops, and Particles in Non-Newtonian Fluids, Second Edition, R. P. Chhabra... 

Solid Acid Catalysed Esterification of Amino Acids and Other Bio-Based Acids... 

In this paper, we focus on synthesis and application of esters of bio-based organic acids. Organic acid esters are used or have potential for use in many industrial and consumer applications including solvents, paint strippers, surfactants, fragrances, and fuel stabilizers2. The chemicals used in these... 

Shen, L. Bio-based and Recycled Polymers for Cleaner Production— An Assessment of Plastics and Fibres. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS)/Copernicus Institute, Utrecht University, 2011. 

Nevertheless, there are several hurdles to overcome. Biotransformation has to compete with a chemical production process. The production of bio-based bulk chemicals and intermediates from white biotechnology must be economically viabile [67]. This means that the biotechnological product must be cheaper to produce or of higher quality than products based on classical chemical routes. And, incidentally, switching to a novel process takes time and money. Therefore, process solutions are required which are adapted to the special needs of biocatalyzed reactions. Within this chapter, several specific tasks have been addressed, illustrating universal possibilities to overcome the limitations found in bioprocesses. 

Hatti-Kaul, R., Tornvall, U., Gustafsson, L. and Borjesson, P. (2007) Industrial biotechnology for the production of bio-based chemicals - a cradle-to-grave perspective. Trends in Biotechnology, 25 (3), 119-124. 

Hermann, B.G. and Patel, M. (2007) Today s and tomorrow s bio-based bulk chemicals from white biotechnology. 

Prof. S. Kobayashi R D Center for Bio-based Materials Kyoto Institute of Technology Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8585, Japan kobayash kit.ac.jp... 

One of the most important advantages of the bio-based processes is operation under mild conditions however, this also poses a problem for its integration into conventional refining processes. Another issue is raised by the water solubility of the biocatalysts and the biocatalyst miscibility in oil. The development of new reactor designs, product or by-product recovery schemes and oil-water separation systems is, therefore, quite important in enabling commercialization. Emulsification is thus a necessary step in the process however, it should be noted that highly emulsified oil can pose significant downstream separation problems. 

Synthetics, Mineral Oils, and Bio-Based Lubricants Chemistry andTechnology, edited by Leslie R. Rudnick... 

Obviously, bio-based chemicals could require less deoxygenation of the biomass than do biofuels. 

The potential of combining a lower need for deoxygenation and a higher product value is illustrated in Fig. 2.15. It shows that the selective incorporation of oxygen into a hydrocarbon, as done in the petrochemical industry, is very expensive. In contrast, the bio-based alternative enjoys two advantages. Firstly, the feedstock is cheaper than crude oil, even on an energy and carbon base, as discussed above. Secondly, its selective deoxygenation has been proven to cheaper than the petrochemical route in a few cases, e.g., for ethanol and furfural. The same can be expected for other biomass derivates in the future. 

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