Chemicals from wood: the policy implications of federal subsidy. Volume 2. Analysis and conclusions

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5390980

Johnson, R C; Miller, C G; Neuworth, M B; Talib, A

This report addresses the policy implications involving the production of ethanol, furfural, and phenol from the breakdown of wood, and methanol and acetic acid from wood gasification. The selection process for high value-added chemicals from biomass is examined, and the primary and secondary screening criteria are considered. The projected levels of market penetration for the five chemicals from wood are summarized, the principal petrochemical feedstocks that would be displaced are noted, and the critical uncertainties in the projections are explored. Ethanol from wood is said to be competitive with synthetic ethanol for approximately half the total chemical market for ethanol. Furfural is likely to be co-produced with ethanol from wood; it is predicted that additional markets for furfural will open up if the price of furfural decreases. The production of phenol is shown to be one option for the use of the lignin fraction of wood. The policy issues of Federal supports for chemicals from biomass are analyzed. Reviewer comments are appended to the report.

• Research Organization: Mitre Corp., McLean, VA (USA). METREK Div.
• OSTI ID: 5390980
• Report Number(s): PB-84-100775; MTR-83W9-02
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ACETIC ACID
MARKET
ETHANOL
FURFURAL
METHANOL
PHENOL
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
GASIFICATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GRANTS
MARKETING
PRICES
SUBSIDIES
WOOD
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
AROMATICS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FURANS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
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