Chemicals from biomass: present status
Chemicals from biomass can substitute for petrochemical feedstocks by direct utilization of natural polymers, by the use of conventional feedstocks alternatively derived from biomass, and by the use of unusual feedstocks more conveniently derived from biomass. Entirely analogous to the processing of coal, biomass can be gasified to synthesis gas or pyrolyzed to charcoal and tars. Selective processing of the cell wall components can yield ethanol, ethylene, and butadiene from cellulose and phenols and aromatics from lignin. Woody plants comprise the bulk of the renewable biomass material. It is technically feasible to meet our organic chemical and synthetic polymer needs from biomass and sufficient annual growth occurs to provide a continuous supply. Economic feasibility, however, will depend on the future availability and cost of fossil fuels and political decisions. (26 references).
- Research Organization:
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
- OSTI ID:
- 5165833
- Journal Information:
- For. Prod. J.; (United States), Vol. 31:10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOMASS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
AROMATICS
CELLULOSE
CHARCOAL
CONVERSION
ECONOMICS
ETHANOL
ETHYLENE
GASIFICATION
HEMICELLULOSE
LIGNIN
PHENOLS
PYROLYSIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TAR
ADSORBENTS
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)