Chemicals from alternative feedstocks in the United States

Abstract: Growing industrial interest in products from renewable alternative feedstocks has resulted in the creation of more industry-led federal research and development programs. The basis of this interest is introduced, followed by an overview of the various federal programs that support basic through applied research relevant to chemical products from renewable resources, and evidence of the increased coordination efforts between programs. The majority of the paper outlines a new program within the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alternative Feedstocks Program, which specifically targets chemicals from renewables which have the potential to become part of the next generation of high-volume chemical feedstocks for the manufacturing industries. The first product of the program, an iterative process technology decision analysis tool, is broadly presented using the first process development project: succinic acid from fermentable sugars.