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Title: Bioprocessing for the energy-efficient production of chemicals. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5197257

Potential applications of biotechnology for the conservation of energy and/or nonrenewable resources through innovative processing and engineering design are considered. Cells and enzymes are capable of synthesizing, from renewable resources, many organic chemicals of industrial interest. Bioprocessing can make useful contribution in three areas: (1) replacement of natural gas and petroleum with renewable resources; (2) replacement of chemical and thermal conversions with bioconversions; and (3) replacement of current products with bioprocessing products of similar functionality. Research needs in six areas--raw materials; biocatalysis; bioreactors; bioprocessing separations; process sensing, control, and analysis; and products--are identified. A key government role is to support research on bioprocesses that can potentially conserve critical resources in the long term but have not yet been proved economical and thus at present receive inadequate attention from private industry.

Research Organization:
National Materials Advisory Board (NRC), Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5197257
Report Number(s):
PB-86-199874/XAB; NMAB-428
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Sponsored by Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English