Biosourced chemistry
Is biosourced chemistry a viable alternative to so-called “classic” chemistry?
Since it is born, biosourced chemistry has lived several lives. Indeed, it should first be recalled that it is the first form of chemistry developed by man, using the resources provided by biomass. This is for example the case of oleochemistry or more recently of the use of camphor or cellulose. The last 15 years have first been those of
the hope for a strong growth by substituting processes based on fossil carbon for others using biomass. Yet by playing only on competitiveness, this avenue suffers from the drop in
petrol prices. The second development avenue explored is that of
differenciation, which endeavours to develop products with different properties by means of structures that only the living can provide at an acceptable cost.
Since the competitive advantage of a product is the uniqueness of the function that it provides at an acceptable cost for the customer, the various components of its manufacture are important.Biotechnology can intervene on different points of this manufacturing chain:
- The specificity of the initial carbon-based structure (the molecule’s backbone) can come from the selected biomass. This biomass can itself be subject to modification, in particular through the use of “green” biotechnology.
- The specificity can also be the product of a biotechnological process, for example enzymatic catalysis, exploiting the selectivity of this catalysis to precisely functionalise already complex structures.
- In addition, fermentation is a process which makes it possible to produce elaborate structures, but from a “convenience” raw material such as sugars. This combines product differentiation and banality of the raw material. It can also be seen as a controlled industrialisation of a bioresource extract that agriculture is unable to provide with this efficiency.
The Advancy firm, in its study for the Union of Chemical Industries (UIC), noted that biosourced chemistry represented for France a production of about
€10 Bn turnover for an added-value creation estimated at €2 Bn, corresponding to about 24.000 direct jobs, and probably 3 times as many indirect ones. This same study indicates that
biosourced chemistry has a growth rate twice as high as “classic” chemistry. Biotechnology’s strength under constant development can only be used to meet this growth challenge.
More information
Association Chimie Du Végétal (ACDV):
http://www.chimieduvegetal.com/en/ Contact: François Monnet, Advanced Technologies Director, Solvay – francois.monnet@solvay.com
