Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Some authors make reference to 'platforms' rather than platform molecules, and
this is used where no one distinct molecule forms the building block (i.e.
triglycerides with a varied fatty acid composition) or where the composition of the
different molecules can vary (i.e. varying ratios of H
2
, carbon monoxide CO and
CO
2
in synthesis gas). A platform therefore includes several building-block
chemicals grouped together, resulting in a broad range of downstream chemical
products. Two example platforms, syngas and triglycerides, are discussed in
greater detail later in this chapter (see Sections 4.8.1 and 4.8.4).
The first issue to highlight in some of the terms used to describe these molecules
is the application of the 'bio-' prefix (i.e. bio-platform molecules). According to the
Oxford English Dictionary the bio-prefix is used as a direct relationship to 'life', and
although it can be argued that its use in this instance is correct, it does lead to confu-
sion when considering other uses of the bio-prefix elsewhere. Some would argue
that the bio-prefix is only valid for molecules where the entirety of their production
route is via biological processes or that it is a molecule produced and utilised by
nature, and is therefore not applicable to molecules that have required thermal or
chemical treatment in their production. Issues also arise as the bio-prefix is applied
to products, chemicals or materials that are biodegradable, such as in the field of
bio-lubricants. A more suitable alternative would perhaps be 'bio-based' or 'bio-
derived' platform molecules, as these imply that the molecules' constituent elements
have originated from biological processes, but that chemical or thermal treatments
could have been applied during their production. Recent European and international
projects and governmental, academic or industrial bodies have taken a similar
approach when establishing terms for products derived from biomass, or bio-based
products. For instance, the US 2002 Farm Bill defined bio-based products as:
commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that are composed in
whole, or in significant part, of biological products, renewable agricultural materials
(including plant, animal, and marine materials), or forestry materials.
As interest in the bio-based economy continued to grow in the early twenty-first
century, the European Commission also published a definition for a bio-based
product in 2007 [24]:
A bio-based product is a non-food product derived from biomass (plants, algae,
crops, trees, marine organisms and biological waste from households, animals and
food production). Bio-based products may range from high value-added fine
chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food additives, etc., to high volume
materials such as general bio-polymers or chemical feedstocks. The concept
excludes traditional bio-based products, such as pulp and paper, and wood products,
and bio-mass as an energy source.
The European Commission definition makes no reference to the extent to which
the article or product needs to be bio-based, while the US Farm Bill highlighted
that the product should be composed wholly or to a significant extent from
