Biorefineries and Biomass: Options for the Chemical Industry German Association of Biotechnology Industries within the German Chemical Industry Association Frankfurt am Main, Germany
DIB Profile DEUTSCHE INDUSTRIEVEREINIGUNG BIOTECHNOLOGIE Structure: The German Association of Biotechnology Industries (DIB) is the biotechnology division of the Association of the German Chemical Industry (VCI), the VCI sector groups and the VCI sector associations. Sectors: DIB represents the biotechnology sector operating in Germany (Health Care, Industrial Biotechnology, Agri-Food, Environment). DIB s members constitute all in all over 95 % of the market of biotech-related products in Germany. Mission: advocate science and risk-based national, EU and international policies and legislation that rewards the introduction of new technologies and practices 2
Raw Materials Chemical Industry - Present Use in Europe 8 to 10% of feedstock for the organic chemistry production is biobased: 74,1 Mio t/p.a. fossile raw materials At least 6,4 Mio. t renewable raw materials p.a. Renewable raw materials used if cheaper than fossile raw materials If they offer technical advantages compared with fossile raw materials 3
Source of Biomass for the German Chemical Industry (2003) About 17.5 Mio. t oil and gas About 2.3 Mio. t renewable raw materials About 2/3 renewable raw materials are being imported. About 1/3 are grown in Germany. More than 10% of the total raw material consumption is processed in the organic chemistry production. 4
Biomass: Alternative feedstock for chemical industry Why? Economical reasons: Economical advantages: cheaper raw materials Technical advantages: more simple processing, better products Political reasons: Security of supply: fossile feedstock limited, biomass seems unlimited Climate change: biomass considered as CO2-neutral 5
Biomass as alternative feedstock for the chemical industry - Economical reasons: cheaper raw materials Production costs of ethanol from different sources Ethanol EU (sugar beet) Ethanol EU (wheat) Ethanol USA (corn) Ethanol Thai Tapioca Ethanol Brazil (Cane) Gasoline (from Rotterdam) Gasoline (NY harbour) Source: Christoph Berg, F.O.Licht s Sugar & Ethanol Brazil 2005 0 10 20 30 40 50 [US Cent/l] 6
Biomass as alternative feedstock for the chemical industry - Economical reasons: cheaper raw materials Price development: 5 year chart of crude oil, soja and wheat [USD/barrell, USD/t] oil soja wheat 7
Biomass as alternative feedstock for the chemical industry - Economical reasons: cheaper raw materials Study: Raw materials cost are the most significant cost part of production using renewable raw materials. Prices of some major agricultural commodities, which could also be used as feedstock for chemical industry, follow fossile fuel prices. In the future there could be a price for Carbon and no longer for the carbon source. 8
Technical Concepts for the Use of Renewable Raw Materials in the Chemical Industry 9
Raw materials change in the chemical industry: Three Generations of use of biomass Yesterday Use of naturally synthesized molecules as they are. Main part of today use further potential: low Today Use of biomolecules in biotechnological processes. Today very high dynamics potential: big Tomorrow Use of biomass in biorefineries to produce basic. chemicals Today: basic research potential: very big 10
Steps to 3 rd generation: Knowledge-based Bio- Economy Life Science Know-how sustainable, eco-efficient and competitive 11
Steps to 3 rd generation: The Industrial Biotechnology Production Chain Food and Feed Biomaterials, etc. Textile / Leather Pulp and Paper Detergents Production and preparation of biofeed stocks (vegetable oils, sugars, etc.) Chemicals (enzymes, vitamins, acids, antibiotics, steroids, etc.) Cosmetics Bioplastics Biosensors Health Care Consumer Biofuels (bioenthanol, biodiesel) Bioremediation Energy Others Source: Enzing and Kern (2004) Specialised and supportive products and services (consultancy, instruments, software, recruitment, etc.) 12
Hurdles in the use of biomass in the chemical industry 13
Thank you. 14