A Fundamental Review of the Relationships between Nanotechnology and Lignocellulosic Biomass - The Nanoscience and Technology of Renewable Biomaterials - page 3

1.2 Use of Lignocellulosic-based Materials

Matos and Wagner reported on the use of raw materials in the United States and noted a
trend away from renewable materials in the first half of the 20th century (Figure 1.1) as
population increased and the US economy moved from an agricultural to an industrial
base (Matos 1998). In the latter half of the century there was a large increase in raw
materials use as population continued to increase more rapidly and the economy began
a shift toward a service-based economy (Figure 1.2) (Matos and Wagner 1998). These
trends resulted in significant changes in the mix of raw materials used (Sznopek and
Brown 1998, Matthews and Hammond 1999).

100

Renewable materials

80

60

Nonrenewable materials

40

20

0

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1995

Figure1.1 RenewablematerialsuseintheUnitedStates,1900-1995.

800

Industrial minerals
Recycled metals
Primary metals
Nonrenewable organics
Recycled paper
Primary paper
Wood products
Agriculture

600

400

200

0

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1995

Figure1.2 MaterialsuseintheUnitedStates,1900-1995.