Biofuel Effect On Specialty Chemicals
16 December 2007 According to the article, the processes that transform biomass into ethanol or biodiesel can produce byproducts that are currently created by using petroleum. This includes specialty chemicals used in textiles, auto parts, perfumes, cosmetics, and other products.
The article notes the following chemicals as potentially being created by different biofuel production techniques.
| Chemical | Biofuel Source | Derivatives |
|---|---|---|
| Glycerin | Biodiesel | Propylene glycol, epichlorohydrin, succinic acid, succinic salts, omega-3-fatty acids |
| Lactic acid | Cellulose-to-ethanol | Polylactic acid, ethyl lactate |
| Methacrylate monomers | Cellulose-to-ethanol | Acrylic polymers |
| Levulinic acid | Cellulose-to-ethanol | Methyl tetrahydrofuran |
| 1,3-Propanediol | Cellulose-to-ethanol | Polyesters |
| Succinic acid | Cellulose-to-ethanol | 1,4-Butanediol, gamma-butyrolactone, N-Methylpyrrolidone |
| Acetic acid | Corn-starch to ethanol | Vinyl acetate monomer, esters for inks, paints and coatings |
| 1,3-Butanediol | Corn-starch to ethanol | Gamma-butyrolactone |
| Citric acid | Corn-starch to ethanol | Food ingredients, water-softening chemicals |
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