Biotechnology for Producing Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass: Volume II - Fermentation Chemicals from Biomass
The technological and economic feasibility of producing some selected chemicals by fermentation is discussed: acetone, butanol, acetic acid, citric acid, 2,3-butanediol, and propionic acid. The demand for acetone and butanol has grown considerably. They have not been produced fermentatively for three decades, but instead by the oxo and aldol processes. Improved cost of fermentative production will hinge on improving yields and using cellulosic feedstocks. The market for acetic acid is likely to grow 5% to 7%/yr. A potential process for production is the fermentation of hydrolyzed cellulosic material to ethanol followed by chemical conversion to acetic acid. For about 50 years fermentation has been the chief process for citric acid production. The feedstock cost is 15% to 20% of the overall cost of production. The anticipated 5%/yr growth in demand for citric acid could be enhanced by using it to displace phosphates in detergent manufacture. A number of useful chemicals can be derived from 2,3-butanediol, which has not been produced commercially on a large scale. R and D are needed to establish a viable commercial process. The commercial fermentative production of propionic acid has not yet been developed. Recovery and purification of the product require considerable improvement. Other chemicals such as lactic acid, isopropanol, maleic anhydride, fumarate, and glycerol merit evaluation for commercial fermentative production in the near future.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 6552060
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TR-621-754
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Degradation of cellulosic biomass and its subsequent utilization for the production of chemical feedstocks. Final report, February 1, 1978-January 31, 1979
Degradation of cellulosic biomass and its subsequent utilization for the production of chemical feedstocks: Subcontract progress report, 1 March 1979-31 August 1979
Related Subjects
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ACETIC ACID
ACETONE
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTANEDIOLS
BUTANOLS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CITRIC ACID
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FERMENTATION
FUELS
GLYCOLS
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROPIONIC ACID
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
USES
alcohol fuels
bioconversion
biomass
feedstocks