Petroleum-based industrial products have gradually replaced products derived from biological materials. However, biologically based products are making a comeback--because of a threefold increase in farm productivity and new technologies.

Biobased Industrial Products envisions a biobased industrial future, where starch will be used to make biopolymers and vegetable oils will become a routine component in lubricants and detergents.

Biobased Industrial Products overviews the U.S. land resources available for agricultural production, summarizes plant materials currently produced, and describes prospects for increasing varieties and yields.

The committee discusses the concept of the biorefinery and outlines proven and potential thermal, mechanical, and chemical technologies for conversion of natural resources to industrial applications.

The committee also illustrates the developmental dynamics of biobased products through existing examples, as well as products still on the drawing board, and it identifies priorities for research and development.

Contents

• The National Acadamies
• Committee on Biobased Industrial Products
• Board on Biology
• Commission on Life Sciences
• Acknowledgments
• Executive Summary
  • Raw Material Resource Base
  • Opportunities: Range of Biobased Products
  • Processing Technologies
  • A Vision for the Future
  • Recommendations
• 1. Overview
  • Potential Benefits of Biobased Industrial Products
  • Setting a Course for the Future
  • Report Coverage
• 2. Raw Material Resource Base
  • Silviculture Crops
  • Agricultural Crops
  • Enhancing the Supply of Biomass
  • Filling the Raw Material Needs of a Biobased Industry
  • Summary
• 3. Range of Biobased Products
  • Commodity Chemicals and Fuels
  • Intermediate Chemicals
  • Specialty Chemicals
  • Biobased Materials
  • Targeting Markets
  • Capital Investments
  • A Case Study of Lignocellulose-Ethanol Processing
• 4. Processing Technologies
  • The Biorefinery Concept
  • Processes for Converting Raw Materials to Biobased Products
  • Needed Developments in Processing Technology
  • Summary
• 5. Making the Transition to Biobased Products
  • A Vision for the Future
  • Investments to Achieve the Vision
  • Providing a Supportive Infrastructure
  • Conclusion
• References
• Appendixes
  • A Case Study of Lignocellulose Ethanol Processing
  • B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been prepared with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 92-COOP-2-8321; U.S. Department of Energy under order number DE-A101-93CE 50370; National Renewable Energy Laboratory under agreement number XC-2-11274-01; and National Science Foundation under agreement number BCS-9120391. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.