Code No: S066
Price: 2000
Category: Bioprocess & Bioproducts

Executive Summary

Biomass derived bioproducts offers challenging opportunities in technology innovation and associated wealth generation. The conversion of biomass into multiple bio-products could result in complete utilization of biomass - thus improving the yield & overall economics for the bio-fuel industries. Considering the vast potential for deriving value-added bio-products from available Indian biomass, the study was commissioned under the ‘Bioprocess & Bioproducts Programme’ of TIFAC.

The report contains a comprehensive assessment of select bio-chemicals and bio-fuels towards understanding the existing technology trends, identifying the gaps, R&D needs and technology linked business opportunities for their effective utilization in India. The report discusses at length the current status of technologies in India vis-à-vis advanced countries. It also covers an indicative market size for a few high-value products. The study recommends opportunities for biomass derived biochemicals in Indian context. It identifies potential centres in India for R & D projects in collaboration with international organizations.

The first few chapters of the report deal with select high value bio-chemicals and derivatives of C6, C5, C4 & C3 biochemicals that can be obtained from various raw sugars. The biochemicals and their derivatives discussed in details in the report are as follows:

The above listed biochemicals have been identified and discussed in the report due to their higher significance in Indian context based on ‘technical feasibility’ and ‘market attractiveness’ within India. The same have been verified through secondary survey of several research reports available in public domain and inputs & feedback received through primary survey from research scientists and leading industry players in India. 

Sorbitol is currently produced at commercial scale via chemical route. Globally, there is no microbial route being used for sorbitol production at present. Different companies are working towards using sorbitol to get glycol, mannitol and isosorbides. Currently, there are no major initiatives in India to develop or adopt processes for production of isosorbide and poly -ethylene-co-isosorbide- terephthalate (PEIT); however, there exists a potential market for these derivatives of sorbitol.

Technology for production of Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is still far from reaching the stage of commercialization. There are no significant research initiatives by any Indian research institutes or companies. Even internationally, only a few research institutes and companies have managed to make significant moves in this direction.  

Production of Levulinic acid is expensive; hence it is currently a relatively small market specialty chemical. Le Calorie is the world’s first commercial-scale plant built in 2006 to produce levulinic acid. At present, in India it is not being produced at commercial scale.

Xylitol is already being produced commercially, however, production is still expensive and further research is underway to achieve lower cost methods. China, Brazil, U.S., Finland, and a few other European countries are the major producer of xylitol at present. Presently, xylitol is not being manufactured in India at industrial scale and the domestic demand is being catered through imports.

Globally, Furfural production is already happening at commercial scale using acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. In India, National Chemcial Laboratory (NCL), Pune has developed a bench scale & patented one-step process for production of furfural by heterogeneous catalytic route.

Currently, most of the world production of Glutamic acid and Mono-Sodium Glutamate (MSG) is by bacterial fermentation. Indian requirements for Glutamic acid & MSG are largely met by imports.

There is much interest in the use of bio-based succinic acid for the production of biodegradable polymers. Production of Succinic acid through bio-route is the focus of many research programmes in different parts of the world & a number of pilot initiatives are already underway. Genetically modified organism, E.coli is set as benchmark for converting sugar to succinic acid. However, there is not much happening on this front in India.

Lactic acid is already being produced at commercial scale by some International Companies viz. Dow, Cargill and Galaxy. Polylactic acid, one of the key derivatives of lactic acid, holds huge usage potential in biopolymer market. At present, there is no commercial scale production happening for renewable sources based lactic acid in India. Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. with technology transfer from NCL Pune is producing lactic acid at part of their demonstration scale biorefinery in Karnataka.

With increase in production of biodiesel in India, there would be large quantities of glycerol at disposal and refining and selling pharma grade glycerin would not be profitable. Multiple possibilities exist in terms of glycerol derivatives - Propylene glycol, Polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHAs), 1,3-Propanediol, Glycerol Carbonates, Epichlorohydrin & others. For biodiesel plants in India to remain competitive in long run it is essential to realize value from glycerol based derivatives.

Detoxification and appropriate utilization of non-edible oil seed cake left after the extraction of oil is very important for the viability, sustainability and hence wider acceptability of the Jatropha-based biodiesel production system. Till now, detoxification of oil seed cake has been successful only at laboratory scale. However, Indian biodiesel companies and a few leading research centres are working towards attaining complete detoxification of Jatropha.

The chapter on ‘biorefinery’ discusses in brief the classification and stage of development of different types of biorefineries across globe. Integrated biorefinery model based on lignocellulosic feedstock as a concept is gaining popularity in India. India’s first biorefinery based on sugarcane bagasse has already been set up in Karnataka by Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. with technology support from NCL Pune. 

On biodiesel front, the technology for conversion of oil into biodiesel is not a constraint any more. However, the real constraints in attaining commercial viability are poor availability of raw materials and cost of oil obtained. The chapter on biorefinery discusses in details further improved processes for obtaining biodiesel.

The focus of many research and commercial initiatives now is to obtain cellulose derivatives from agro-residue and other waste biomass in place of cotton or wood cellulose. In India, NCL Pune has worked on various cellulose based value added products and technology for the same has been transferred to Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. The report has one chapter on ‘Cellulose based Value Added Products’.

Lignin & lignin based derivatives throw huge opportunities for multiple applications. In India, presently lignin is mainly used as boiler fuel for paper & pulp industry. The report has one separate chapter dedicated to Lignin and its derivatives.

With its huge population, India offers great market potential for nutraceuticals. However, isolating nutraceuticals from non-food biomass sources, such as jatropha seeds is still a challenge and viable processes need to be developed in this regard. The report discusses in brief various nutraceuticals (including Pre & Probitotics). The report has one chapter on ‘Potential Biomaterials from Silk Industry Waste’ and another chapter on ‘Chitin & Chitosan from Seafood Processing Waste’.

Finally, the report contains a set of recommendations on various existing and future opportunities for biomass derived biochemicals in India. It identifies potential centres within India as well as International research institutes for R & D projects related to biomass derived biochemicals.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Background
C6 Biochemicals
        Sorbitol
           -Isosorbide
5-Hydroxymethyl furfural  (HMF)
      Furan Dicarboxylic Acid (FDCA)
      Levulinic acid
C5 Biochemicals
      Xylitol
            -Xylitol - Derivative Considerations
      Furfural
      Glutamic Acid
      C4 Biochemicals
      Succinic Acid
             -Succinic acid based derivatives and their applications
      Acetoin
C3 Biochemicals
      Lactic acid
             -Polylactic acid
      Glycerol and its Derivatives
Conceptualisation of Biorefinery

Bioethanol
 
Biobutanol

Biodiesel

Detoxification of Oil Seedcake

Cellulose based Green Diesel

Cellulose based Value Added Products

Lignin & Lignin based Derivatives

Nutraceutical & Phytochemicals
   Market Size for Neutraceuticals
Pre & Probiotics
   Prebiotics
   Probiotics
Silk Industry Waste- Potential Biomaterials
Chitin & Chitosan from Seafood Processing Waste
Conclusions
Recommendations
      Recommended Set of Initiative in Short Term
      Recommended set of initiatives in Medium to Long Term.
Potential Technology Providers
Annexures
    Annexure I : Details of In-depth Interviews
    Annexure II :Details of Group Discussions and Brain -storming Sessions
    Annexure III : Executive Summary of TIFAC Report on ‘Availability of
                            Indian Biomass Resources for its Exploitations’
    Annexure IV: Indicative Prices of Select Crop Residues
    Annexure V: Biomass Based Technologies Available for Licensing
    Annexure VI : Classification of Biorefineries
    Annexure VII : Overview of International Biorefinery Initiatives
    Annexure VIII : Biorefineries Funded by DOE, US
    Annexure  IX : DBT Sponsored Projects
    Annexure  X : List of References
    Annexure  XI : Table of Figures