Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Unsaturated
hydrocarbons
Diols
Alcohols
Lactones
Lactic
acid
Fatty
alcohols
Fatty
acids
(Di)acids
O functionalities
O functionalities
Short C chain length
Intermediate to long
chain lengths
Fermentation
Chemistry
Health/
pharma
Citric
acid
Diacids
(>C6)
Glycerol
(derivatives)
Carbohydrates
Fats and
oils
Other
e.g. lignin
Proteins
Amino acids
Linear,
unsaturated
alcholos
Linear,
unsaturated
aldehydes
Diamines
(Poly)amides
Cyclic
functionality
N functionality
Aromatic functionality
Short (branched)
chains
Linear, unsaturated
(C5)
n
chains
(bio) Chemistry
Aromatic
acids
Nitriles
Aromatic
alcohols
Lactams
Nitriles
Fig. 2
The biorefinery toolbox
to utilise carbohydrates in fermentation processes or synthesis of oxygen containing
products while amino acids (from proteins) could be used to synthesise small
molecules containing amine (or other nitrogen) functionalities, Fig. 2.
The application of bio-refinery technology is currently implemented for example
in the isolation of starch from potatoes and oils from soybean or rape seed for use
in biodiesel production.
As various legislation and governmental aims come into place for the use of bio-
fuels, production and use are set to increase. Assuming a 10% global substitution
of transportation fuels, the use of wheat, corn, rape and palm amongst others for
biofuel production will lead to large amounts of glycerol and residual protein mate-
rials. The use of glycerol has been previously described, however application of
the large amount of protein waste has till now not been explored. The rest protein
from such streams would amount to an estimated ca. 100 mln tonnes per annum.
This volume is in excess of requirements for food and feed and so could provide
a good source of raw material for upgrading. Indeed as we will describe in more
detail later, amino acids contained in proteins have functionality that is conducive
to preparing (bulk industrial) chemicals that are currently prepared by industry and
so application of waste protein and hence amino acids as raw materials could find a
place in the chemical industry. Rest streams containing proteins and/or amino acids
are not contained to those generated from biofuels. Other rest streams from the use
of renewable raw materials are also available. For example potatoes are cultivated
and used for the preparation of starch for non-food purposes. During the process a
rest “potato juice” stream, rich in amino acids is generated. In a concentrated form
this is known as Protamylasse
R
.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search