SBE Supplement: Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology - Biomass Processing by the Numbers | AIChE

You are here

SBE Supplement: Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology - Biomass Processing by the Numbers

SBE Special Section
June
2016

In the lab, pilot plants, and even commercial facilities, high-value chemicals are being produced from renewable feed-stocks such as biomass. Feedstocks ranging from wood and corn to algae and municipal waste are being converted into various products, including ethanol, dicarboxylic acids, polymers, and fuel. And, processed biomass (intermediates made from raw biomass) is the source of a host of high-value chemicals as well.

A look at the news gives an idea of what’s happening in bioprocessing around the world. Here, bio-based projects reported* between October 2013 and October 2015 are sliced, diced, and brought to you in the form of numbers. Projects are separated into two categories: those that process raw biomass and those that use processed biomass. About a quarter of the projects involved microorganisms (e.g., yeast, bacteria) and a quarter did not; that distinction was not reported for the remaining 50%. Take a look at the results.

* Biotechnology projects considered were reported in Chemical Engineering Progress and Chemical and Engineering News between Oct. 2013 and Oct. 2015.

images

Biomass is being processed around the world, with most of the reported projects located in the U.S. The dominance of the U.S. likely stems from a unique combination of the country’s significant generation of biomass, from agriculture and forest products, advanced university and industrial research in biotechnology, and the availability of capital, including private venture capital, for investment in these projects. The table includes biomass-fed and intermediate-fed projects.

Would you like to access the complete CEP Article?

No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.

You have completed 0 of 2 steps.

  1. Log in

    You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.

  2. AIChE Membership

    You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.

Copyright Permissions 

Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.

Features