Biobased chemicals and materials are commercial or industrial products, other than food and feed, derived from biomass feedstocks. Biobased products include green chemicals, renewable plastics, natural fibers, and natural structural materials. Many of these products can replace products and materials traditionally derived from petrochemicals, but new and improved processing technologies will be required.

Source: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Biobased Chemicals and Materials

Bio-chemicals - Green Chemicals

Many organic commodity chemicals, fine chemicals, and chemical intermediates can be made from biomass resources. Commodity chemicals include solvents, fuel additives, lubricants, surfactants, adhesives, and inks. Major fine chemical groups include enzymes, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical intermediates include sugars, organic acids (such as levulinic acid), and other monomers or monomer precursors.

 

Bio-chemicals - Conversion Technologies - Thermochemical Conversion Processes

Heat energy and chemical catalysts are used to break down biomass into intermediate compounds or products. In gasification, biomass is heated in an oxygen-starved environment to produce a gas composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In pyrolysis, biomass is exposed to high temperatures in the absence of air, causing it to decompose. Solvents, acids and bases can be used to fractionate biomass into an array of products including sugars, cellulosic fibers and lignin.