Document Detail


Environmental comparison of bio-based chemicals from glutamic acid with their petrochemical equivalents.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21870885     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Glutamic acid is an important constituent of waste streams from biofuels production. It is an interesting starting material for the synthesis of bio-based chemicals, thereby decreasing the dependency on fossil fuels. The objective of this paper was to compare the environmental impact of four bio-based chemicals from glutamic acid with their petrochemical equivalents, i.e. N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), acrylonitrile (ACN), and succinonitrile (SCN). A consequential life cycle assessment was performed, wherein glutamic acid was obtained from sugarbeet vinasse. The removed glutamic acid was substituted with cane molasses and ureum. The comparison between the four bio-based and petrochemical products showed that for NMP and NVP the bio-based version had less impact on the environment, while for ACN and SCN the petrochemical version had less impact on the environment. For the latter two an optimized scenario was computed, which showed that the process for SCN can be improved to a level at which it can compete with the petrochemical process. For bio-based ACN large improvements are required to make it competitive with its petrochemical equivalent. The results of this LCA and the research preceding it also show that glutamic acid can be a building block for a variety of molecules that are currently produced from petrochemical resources. Currently, most methods to produce bio-based products are biotechnological processes based on sugar, but this paper demonstrates that the use of amino acids from low-value byproducts can certainly be a method as well.
Authors:
Tijs Merijn Lammens; Jose Potting; Johan P Sanders; Imke de Boer
Related Documents :
6490755 - Analysis and characterisation of aromatic amino acids, metabolites and peptides by rapi...
7424225 - Synthesis of phospholipids in microstructures, prepared by the interaction of ammonium ...
750835 - Bile acids in tissues: binding of lithocholic acid to protein.
8193595 - 5-fluorouracil modulates aminoacylation of rat liver trna.
6533025 - Formation of nitrosamines in non-ionic and anionic emulsions in the presence and absenc...
5563875 - Petite mutation in yeast. ii. isolation of mutants containing mitochondrial deoxyribonu...
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-8-29
Journal Detail:
Title:  Environmental science & technology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1520-5851     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-8-29     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0213155     Medline TA:  Environ Sci Technol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Hibiscus sabdariffa polyphenolic extract inhibits hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and glycation-oxidat...
Next Document:  Neuropsychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus: epidemiology, pathophysiology and m...