Bio-Based Chemicals

Bio-Based Chemicals Latest News

India has prioritised bio-based chemicals and enzymes as a priority area under the Department of Biotechnology’s BioE3 policy. 

About Bio-Based Chemicals

• Bio-based chemicals are industrial chemicals produced using biological feedstocks like sugarcane, corn, starch, or biomass residues.
• These are often produced through fermentation or enzymatic processes.
  • Examples: Organic acids (such as lactic acid), bio-alcohols, solvents, surfactants, and intermediates used in plastics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Unlike conventional chemicals, for which the largely available supplies are obtained through sources of fossil fuel, bio-based alternatives reflect a sustainable solution.

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Ecological Benefits of the Bio-Based Chemicals

• The bio-based industry reduces reliance on fossil fuels by applying renewable feedstocks.
• Low production of harmful byproducts: Biobased methods generate much lower amounts of hazardous waste than the conventional petroleum-based methodologies.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: The production of biochemicals generally requires less energy than their corresponding petroleum-based equivalents.
• Waste Minimization and Circular Economy: With bio-based chemicals mostly coming from organic waste resources, development of the circular economy will be based on recycling, efficiency in the use of resources.

Challenges and Risks

• Cost Disadvantage: Higher production cost compared to petrochemical alternatives, which creates an entry level barrier.
• Feedstock: Availability of reliable feedstocks and supporting infrastructure required to produce different categories of bio-based chemicals at scale.
• Market Adoption: Uncertainty about adapting bio-based chemicals as substitutes over fossil fuel based chemicals.

Source: TH