Biotechnology techniques are also being applied to a wide variety of industrial processes, including: organic chemicals, energy production, mineral recovery, waste-stream reduction, bioremediation, enzymes, and bioelectronics.
In manufacturing and synthesis, conventional chemical engineering processes are giving way to technologies to create a variety of products. Enzymes are being used to convert cellulose to sugar, and from there, ethanol, an alternative fuel for transportation energy. Additional products from the conversion of cellulose include bulk, fine, and commodity chemicals and polymers. Bio-based products are carbon-neutral and, hence, do not contribute to global warming, are biodegradable, and make use of renewable resources, as opposed to fossil fuels. The benefits of this shift in manufacturing techniques include better economics (i.e., lower costs, higher profits), less pollution, and conservation of resources.
In other activity, genes in microbes are being modified to produce enzymes for underground injection to complete newly drilled oil wells. Bioprospecting refers to the search for microbes with unique profiles to be used in industrial processes. In the growing field of environmental biotechnology, the technique called “bioremediation” uses microbes and enzymes to clean up pollution.
Biotechnology is being applied to the $400 billion forestry industry to increase its productivity. This is particularly important since global demand for wood products in 2010 is expected to be about 20% higher than the current usage of 1.9 billion cubic meters (source: U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization). Biotech processes are helping increase growth rates and render more efficient the conversion of solar power into wood production. In addition, biotech processes are helping produce trees that are healthier, more insect- and disease-resistant and less vulnerable to forest pests. Enzymes produced by biotechnology provide the forestry industry with the means to pre-treat and soften wood chips, remove pine pitch from pulp, bleach pulp without chlorine, de-ink recycled paper, help convert wood processing waste to produce energy and remediate contaminated soils.
In manufacturing and synthesis, conventional chemical engineering processes are giving way to technologies to create a variety of products. Enzymes are being used to convert cellulose to sugar, and from there, ethanol, an alternative fuel for transportation energy. Additional products from the conversion of cellulose include bulk, fine, and commodity chemicals and polymers. Bio-based products are carbon-neutral and, hence, do not contribute to global warming, are biodegradable, and make use of renewable resources, as opposed to fossil fuels. The benefits of this shift in manufacturing techniques include better economics (i.e., lower costs, higher profits), less pollution, and conservation of resources.
In other activity, genes in microbes are being modified to produce enzymes for underground injection to complete newly drilled oil wells. Bioprospecting refers to the search for microbes with unique profiles to be used in industrial processes. In the growing field of environmental biotechnology, the technique called “bioremediation” uses microbes and enzymes to clean up pollution.
Biotechnology is being applied to the $400 billion forestry industry to increase its productivity. This is particularly important since global demand for wood products in 2010 is expected to be about 20% higher than the current usage of 1.9 billion cubic meters (source: U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization). Biotech processes are helping increase growth rates and render more efficient the conversion of solar power into wood production. In addition, biotech processes are helping produce trees that are healthier, more insect- and disease-resistant and less vulnerable to forest pests. Enzymes produced by biotechnology provide the forestry industry with the means to pre-treat and soften wood chips, remove pine pitch from pulp, bleach pulp without chlorine, de-ink recycled paper, help convert wood processing waste to produce energy and remediate contaminated soils.
