21st Century Biobased Products, Industrial Bioproducts, and Chemicals from BIomass Series on Renewable Energy, Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Biobased Products (Ringbound)

This is a great collection of documents and publications from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program and the Biomass Technical Advisory Committee with detailed information about biobased products, industrial bioproducts, and chemicals made from biomass. Contents include:

VISION FOR BIOENERGY AND BIOBASED PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES – The national "vision" for biomass technologies calls for establishing an "economically viable bioenergy and biobased products industry" by the year 2030, with 25% of target chemicals coming from biobased sources. This committee report "establishes far-reaching goals for increasing the role of biobased energy and products in our nation’s economy. It represents the collective vision of the Biomass Technical Advisory Committee established by the Biomass R&D Act of 2000. The Advisory Committee is a group of 26 individuals from industry, academia, non-profits, and the agricultural and forestry sectors who are experts in their fields. The Committee believes that the Vision goals are technically feasible." The report presents detailed information on the current status of biomass technologies, biobased products, feedstock production, biotechnology and plant physiology, feedstock handling, processing and conversion, bi! orefinery integration, product uses and distribution, public policy measures to support biomass development, definitions and terms, and numerous tables, charts and graphs.

INDUSTRIAL BIOPRODUCTS TODAY AND TOMORROW – This 2003 report for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the DOE, provides an extremely thorough and well-illustrated review of all issues associated with bioproducts. The preface states:

"Today the U.S. economy is dominated by technologies that rely on fossil energy (petroleum, coal, natural gas) to produce fuels, power, chemicals and materials. Biomass presents a promising renewable energy opportunity that could provide an alternative to the use of fossil resources. A bioindustry could harness the energy and molecular building blocks of biomass (crops, trees, grasses, crop residues, forest residues, animal wastes, and municipal solid waste) to create products that are now manufactured from petroleum. New industrial biorefineries could produce biobased products, fuels and power for our economy making us far less dependent on fossil fuels. As a domestic energy source, biomass is naturally abundant. In the continental United States, about 500 to 600 million tons of plant matter can be grown and harvested in addition to our food and feed needs. These abundant biomass resources can be used to significantly enhance our nation’s energy independence and security ov! er the long term by reducing the use of imported oil and increasing the reliability of energy supplies. Today, the United States imports over 7 barrels of oil for every 5 barrels produced domestically. This heavy dependence on imported oil negatively affects the U.S. trade balance and exposes our economy to potential disruptions in supply. Volatilities in the price and availability of fossil energy also create economic and social uncertainties for businesses and individuals. A bioindustry could help meet demand for energy and products, and leverage our limited fossil energy resources. A bioindustry could provide other benefits such as productive use of agricultural and forestry wastes, lower emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants, and growth in rural economies. At the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), fostering a new bioindustry is a high priority. EERE recognizes the significant potential of biomass and the opportunities it represents to enhance our energy security. In view of this potential, EERE has established the Office of the Biomass Program (OBP) to promote the use of this valuable energy resource. The activities conducted by OBP will foster development of the technologies needed to drive the growth of a new bioin