Source: The Hindu
Context:
India is prioritising bio-based chemicals and enzymes under the BioE3 Policy of the Department of Biotechnology to promote sustainable manufacturing and reduce dependence on petrochemical imports.
What are Bio-based Chemicals?
Industrial chemicals produced from renewable biological feedstocks instead of fossil fuels.
Examples of feedstock:
- Sugarcane
- Corn
- Starch
- Agricultural residues
- Biomass
Production methods:
- Fermentation
- Microbial processing
- Enzymatic conversion
What are Enzymes?
- Biological catalysts (mostly proteins).
- Speed up chemical reactions.
- Widely used in industrial production processes.
Produced through:
- Microbial fermentation
- Purification and formulation
Applications
Chemical Industry
- Organic acids (lactic acid)
- Bio-alcohols
- Solvents
Pharmaceuticals
- Drug synthesis
- Vaccine production
Food Processing
- Brewing
- Baking
- Dairy
Textiles & Detergents
- Fabric treatment
- Stain removal
Clean Technology
- Bioplastics
- Biofuels
- Green manufacturing
