This viewpoint of producing sustainable chemicals begins within the context of developing optimal biorefinery strategies for producing biofuels and value-added chemicals from agricultural feedstocks. While production of corn-starch ethanol (referred to as Gen 1.0 Biorefineries) has matured, development of �advanced biofuels� beyond corn ethanol, including cellulosic ethanol, requires more R&D.  The next evolutionary step, the so-called �Gen 1.5 Biorefinery�, involves several significant developments that include; (1) utilizing the �cheapest source of carbons� within a given region ; (2) optimizing the value of each carbon by producing fine chemicals; and (3) integrating all processes within the biorefinery.  Specific examples will be provided on sustainable strategies, such as deriving free sugars from food wastes, combining ethanol with biogas production, producing glucaric, aldaric and even nylon precursors from biomass-derived sugars, and creating the basis for polyurethane from biomass feedstocks.  One overarching theme of this discussion will be the need for cross-disciplinary cooperation. The optimal Gen. 1.5 Biorefinery will combine the best of traditional chemical processing, (bio)chemical engineering, and process design, along with the latest in enzymatic (biocatalytic) conversions and metabolic engineering of microbes.

Strategies for creating sustainable chemicals and biofuels from agriculturally derived feedstocks: AGFD perspective

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.