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

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOREACTORS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CATALYSIS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENZYMES
INDUSTRY
MICROORGANISMS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SYNTHESIS