Perspectives for the Brazilian residual biomass in renewable chemistry

Abstract

The need to change non-renewable raw materials by biomass as an oil substitute has been shown to be a strategic challenge for the 21st century. Chemicals have the highest potential to add value to a vegetable biomass chain because of the importance of conventional chemical industry and fine chemical chemistry for different sectors of the economy; these compounds may be used as building blocks, intermediaries of synthesis, and specialties. This article deals with the economic potential of the usage of residual biomass as a raw material in chemistry, with a special interest in residues from bioenergetic chains (biodiesel and ethanol). It focus on showing a scenario related to the perspectives and challenges for the development of a Brazilian renewable chemistry, considering that Brazil is one of the largest global producers of agro-industrial biomass for several purposes, especially for bioenergy. © 2014 IUPAC & De Gruyter.