Pollution and Pollution Control - Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application - page 84

the use of biological systems results in reduced insecticide use and thus a cor-
responding lowering of the attendant pollution potential, the net environmental
gains of the application of biotechnology are clear.
Bio-Substitutions
The bio-substitution of suitable, less harmful alternatives for many of today's
polluting substances or materials is a major potential avenue for the environ-
mentally beneficial application of biotechnology. The question of biofuels and
the major renewable contribution which organised, large scale biomass utilisa-
tion could make to energy demands is examined in some detail in Chapter 10
and will not, therefore be repeated here. The biological production of polymers,
likewise, features in the same section on integrated biotechnology and, though
clearly distinctly germane to the present discussion, will also not appear in this
consideration. However, the other major use of mineral oils, as lubricants, is an
excellent case study of the opportunities, and obstacles, surrounding biotech sub-
stitutes. Biodegradable alternatives to traditional lubricating oils have existed for
some time, but in many ways they exemplify the pressures which work against
novel biological products.
Barriers to uptake
Typically, most of the barriers which they must overcome are non-technical.
The pollution of many inland and coastal waters around the world is a well
appreciated environmental problem and wider use of these non-toxic, readily
biodegradable alternative products could make a huge difference. The main obsta-
cles to wider market acceptance of the current generation of alternative lubricants
are neither performance based, nor rooted in industrial conservatism. Cost is a
major issue, as bio-lubricants are around twice as expensive as their conventional
equivalents, while for some more specialist formulations the difference is signif-
icantly greater. Though, inevitably, users need to be convinced of the deliverable
commercial benefits, the potential market is enormous. The petrochemical indus-
try has sought to meet the growing demand for more environmentally friendly
products by developing biodegradable lubricants based on crude oil. However,
with the agricultural sector, particularly throughout Europe, being encouraged
to grow non-food crops commercially, there is a clear opportunity for a size-
able vegetable oil industry to develop, though the attitude of heavy industry will
prove crucial.
While there is no denying the burgeoning interest in bio-lubricants, the actual
machinery to be lubricated is extremely expensive, and enforced down-time can
be very costly. Understandably, as a result, few equipment operators are willing
to risk trying these new, substitute oils, as original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) are seldom willing to guarantee their performance, not least because
vegetable products are often wrongly viewed as inferior to traditional oils.