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Chemicals

What is the role of biotechnology in producing chemicals?

Biotechnology can be used to produce various bulk and fine chemicals that are currently produced from fossil fuel based feedstocks. Biobased substances can also act as building blocks for many other materials provided that they are cost competitive.

Overview of chemicals that can be obtained from major biomass constituents by
established or possible biotechnological processes (Source: Brew project)

How does biotechnology reduce the environmental footprint of the chemical industry?

Often several chemical production steps are replaced by one biotechnological step, with potential advantages ranging from less material input to fewer by-products and reduced production of waste and energy use.

Traditionally, the vitamin B2 manufacturing process starts with glucose and is followed by a sequence of six chemical steps. However, since 1990, most chemical processes in relation to the production of vitamin B2 have been replaced by fermentation. Producers now use yeasts or fungi in a single integrated biological process. The shift from the traditional chemical process to bioprocessing has resulted in a 40% cost reduction and in a drastic reduction of wastes and pollutants.

The energy consumed in the chemical and the biotechnological processes is comparable but chemical synthesis uses more steam (energy) which typically comes from fossil fuels such as coal, whereas fermentation involves the use of additional electricity which can be derived from renewable resources such as wind. Therefore, compared to chemical synthesis, fermentation has reduced the use of non-renewable resources by 80%, volatile organic compounds by 50% and emissions to water by 66% while the residuals (34%) are inorganic salt and biomass.

Improvements of car engines are not the only way to reduce fuel consumption and the impact of vehicles on the environment. Tires can play a crucial role: out of every five full tanks of fuel, one is consumed by friction between the tires and the road.
To reduce the energy consumed by the tyres hitting the road, a technology was developed using corn starch as a polymer filler that reinforces the tyre’s compounds and optimises their properties. Thus, traditional chemical compounds such as silicia and carbon black (which gives tires their deep black colour) can be replaced with a renewable and environmentally-friendly additive.

To reduce the energy consumed by the tires hitting the road, a tires producer has developed ED technology. This technology uses corn starch as polymer filler that reinforces the tire’s compounds and optimises their properties. Traditional chemical compounds such as silicia and carbon black (which gives tires their deep black colour) can be replaced with a renewable and environmentally-friendly additive.
Tires made using this technology weigh less than traditional tires and have a 20% reduced rolling resistance. Combined, the advantages in production and use of the tires have shown a decrease in fuel consumption of up to 5% in tests. Moreover, this new technology decreases CO2 emissions by 7,7g/km (0,2g/km in the production process of the filler and 7,5g/km as result of lower rolling resistance). Last but not least, the improved filler helps reduce tire noise level by some 50%.

More information on

Biochemicals on Biobasics
Biochemicals on Wikipedia