Renewable Chemicals

In bioprocesses, the feedstocks required to grow the catalysts and produce the chemical renewable are generally renewable resources, such as sugar from crops. Conversely, purely feedstocks chemical synthesis relies largely on non-renewable resources such as oil, coal and natural gas. It follows that as non-renewable resources dwindle, it is likely that biotechnology will become increasingly important to the chemical industry. 

Keywords. Bulk chemicals. Renewable resources, 1,3-Propanediol, Metabohc engineering. Biocommodity engineering... 

Avantium Chemicals Renewable Chemistries Zekeringstraat 29 1014 BV Amsterdam The Netherlands... 

Keywords 5-(Chloromethyl)furfural 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural Biomass Biomass derivatives Biorefinery Catalysis CMF Green chemistry HMF Levulinic acid Platform chemicals Renewable chemistry... 

Yan, K., Wu, G., Lafleur, T., Jarvis, C., 2014. Production, properties and catalytic hydrogenation of furfural to fuel additives and value-added chemicals. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 38, 663—676. 

Pike Research. Green chemistry biobased chemicals, renewable feedstocks, green polymers, less-toxic alternative chemical formulations, and the foundations of a sustainable chemical industry (Executive Summary Reprint), Ind. BiotechnoL, 2011, 7,431 33. 

The chemical recycling of carbon dioxide into usable fuels provides a renewable carbon base to supplement and eventually replace our diminishing natural hydrocarbon resources. Methanol (or dimethyl ether), as discussed, can be readily converted into ethylene or, by further reaction, into propylene. 

Because oil and gas ate not renewable resources, at some point in time alternative feedstocks will become attractive however, this point appears to be fat in the future. Of the alternatives, only biomass is a renewable resource (see Fuels frombiomass). The only chemical produced from biomass in commercial quantities at the present time is ethanol by fermentation. The cost of ethanol from biomass is not yet competitive with synthetically produced ethanol from ethylene. Ethanol (qv) can be converted into a number of petrochemical derivatives and could become a significant source. 

Renewable carbon resources is a misnomer the earth s carbon is in a perpetual state of flux. Carbon is not consumed such that it is no longer available in any form. Reversible and irreversible chemical reactions occur in such a manner that the carbon cycle makes all forms of carbon, including fossil resources, renewable. It is simply a matter of time that makes one carbon from more renewable than another. If it is presumed that replacement does in fact occur, natural processes eventually will replenish depleted petroleum or natural gas deposits in several million years. Eixed carbon-containing materials that renew themselves often enough to make them continuously available in large quantities are needed to maintain and supplement energy suppHes biomass is a principal source of such carbon. 

The discovery of chemical N2 fixation under ambient conditions is more compatible with a simple, complementary, low temperature and low pressure system, possibly operated electrochemically and driven by a renewable energy resource (qv), such as solar, wind, or water power, or other off-peak electrical power, located near or in irrigation streams. Such systems might produce and apply ammonia continuously, eg, directly in the rice paddy, or store it as an increasingly concentrated ammoniacal solution for later appHcation. In fact, the Birkeland-Eyde process of N2 oxidation in an electric arc has been... 

Paper (qv) is a material of tremendous versatility and utility, prepared from a renewable resource. It may be made soft or stiff, dense or porous, absorbent or water repellent, textured or smooth. Some of the versatility originates with the fibers, which may vary from short and supple to long and stiff, but the contribution of chemicals should not be underestimated (see Papermaking materials and additives). 

Feedstock for Chemical Synthesis. It is estimated that <0.5% of the sucrose produced each year is used for nonfood purposes (41). An alternative appHcation, namely the production of chemicals, is an attractive option as the feedstock is plentiful, renewable, and of consistently high purity. Moreover, the biodegradabiUty of many sucrochemicals makes them environmentally friendly. 

Wood is an important natural resource, one of the few that are renewable. It is prevalent ia our everyday Hves and the economy ia wood-frame houses and furniture newspapers, books, and maga2iaes bridges and railroad ties fence posts and utiUty poles fuelwood textile fabrics and organic chemicals. Wood and wood products are also a store for carbon, thus, helping to minimise carbon dioxide ia the atmosphere. 

Wood is one of our most important renewable biomass resources. Unlike most biomass sources, wood is available year round and is more stable on storage than other agricultural residues. In the United States, wood residues from iadustrial by-products totaled 60.8 x 10 metric tons ia 1993 (73). Increasiagly, residues are iacorporated iato manufactured wood products and are used as a fuel, replacing petroleum, especially at wood-iadustry plants (73) some is converted to charcoal but most is used ia the pulp and paper iadustry. Residues are also available for manufacturiag chemicals, generally at a cost equivalent to their fuel value (see Fuels frombiomass Fuels fromwaste). 

Production and Consumption. About 80% of the world s barite production is used as a weighting agent for the muds ckculated in rotary drilling of oil and gas wells (see PETROLEUM, DRILLING FLUIDS AND OTHER OIL RECOVERY CHEMICALS). Table 2 shows the U.S. production—consumption balance. The 1988 demand for barite increased nearly 40% over that recorded in 1987. However, by the end of 1988, oil prices had declined and renewed economic uncertainties depressed exploration and development activity. Barite demand fell accordingly and imports of lower cost foreign product exceeded domestic production. 

Ethylene. Where ethylene is ia short supply and fermentation ethanol is made economically feasible, such as ia India and Bra2il, ethylene is manufactured by the vapor-phase dehydration of ethanol. The production of ethylene [74-85-1] from ethanol usiag naturally renewable resources is an active and useful alternative to the pyrolysis process based on nonrenewable petroleum. This route may make ethanol a significant raw material source for produciag other chemicals. 

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