Fats and Oils as Precursors for Biopolymers

Unsaturated and saturated short-chain dicarboxylic acids such as maleic, succinic and adipic acid are well-known industrial chemicals manufactured on a petrochemical basis. Besides hydrogenation of maleic anhydride or oxidation of tetrahydrofuran, white biotechnology additionally opens a new route to 

Schematic pathways to oleochemical polyols. (Source T. Roloff, U. Erkens and R. Hofer, Polyols based on renewable feedstocks A significant alternative, Urethanes Technology, August/September 2005, 29.) 

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