(761b) Assessing Technological, Economic and Environmental Performance of Bio-Based Chemicals

Biomass is a renewable resource which can be converted into various marketable products using several conversion processes. As the research is taking strides in populating techniques to produce chemicals and fuels via multiple biochemical routes, it is critical to appraise the processes for its long term viability as a sustainable source. Sustainable chemical targets must be identified prior to investing time, money and manpower resources to nurture these. This unique contribution focuses on developing a multi-sector, multi-scale framework which can be used to evaluate new technologies based on its economic and environmental potential. The framework facilitates channeling information across multiple scales throughout the workflow of process development. Generated parameters are coupled to an optimization framework which is capable of accessing processes with respect to the contemporary technologies based on fossil derived feedstock. The resulting decision support tool can be used to study the existing market and test viability of bioprocesses while accounting for inter and intra sector interactions in the value chain. The traits of this tool, bolstered with detailed simulation models, make it an appropriate venue to test various renewable process technologies, provide insights towards future production strategies and guide the research to develop bio-based products with commercial potential.