Robust and Sustainable Utilization of Biofuel Co-Products to increase Biorefinery Diversification

Reducing foreign dependence on petroleum-based materials is a key to enhancing the US agricultural economy in the long-term. In recent years with the rising costs of petrochemical prices, there has been an increasing interest in renewable sourced specialty chemicals. Presently, less than 4 percent of U.S. chemicals sales are biobased in origin. A recent USDA analysis puts the potential biobased chemical market share in excess of 20 percent by 2025 with adequate federal policy support. If this rate of growth is achieved, the industry could create or save tens of thousands of additional jobs in the next five years. Increasing the production efficiency and the value of co-products in biofuel operations will also improve the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions from US biorefineries. The research developed under this proposal will address both the climate change and sustainable bioenergy priorities at USDA. This project will enhance two additional pathways for biobased materials, sucrose esters and glycerol carbonate, and facilitate their production viability in US biofuel refineries. The goal is to move these process improvements from the academic realm into commercial reality.