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The biomass alternative

A national insurancy policy to protect the US strategic supply of chemical feedstocks

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Abstract

Prospects for biomass commodity chemicals are currently unfavorable as a result of: generic deficiencies in fermentation processes with respect to generally low (below 5%) product concentrations and slow fermentation rates, and lack of a presently competitive advantage for renewable materials compared with depressed prices for crude oil. However, research can alter the first limitation, and Middle East politics, the second.

In the meantime, the continuation of a national research program on biomass conversion is strongly urged as a strategic insurance policy to protect the American organic chemicals industry against further disruptions in crude oil-based feedstocks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio En-Gene-Er Associates, Inc., 19803, Wilmington, DE

    Robert M. Busche

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  1. Robert M. Busche
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Busche, R.M. The biomass alternative. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 20, 655–674 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02936515

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