Abstract
A case study of biodegradable polymer production from agricultural feedstocks casts doubt on the premise that alternative biological processes always offer environmental benefits over conventional manufacturing processes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Alper, J. Science 283, 1625–1626 (1999).
Pool, R. Science 245, 1187–1189 (1989).
Williams, S.F. & Peoples, O.P. Chemtech 26, 38–44 (1996).
Lee, S-Y . Nat. Biotechnol. 15, 17–18 (1997).
Hocking, M.B. Science 251, 504–505 (1991).
Hocking, M.B. Environ. Management 15, 731–747 (1991).
Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, http://www.eia.doe.gov/.
While all the carbon dioxide that is emitted during the fermentation is indeed of plant origin and therefore should not be viewed as a net greenhouse gas contribution, this is not the case for the 2.39 kg of fossil fuels that have to be combusted to provide process energy.
Smil, V., Nachman, P. & Long, T.V.I. Energy analysis and agriculture, an application to U.S. corn production (Westview Press, Inc., Boulder, CO; 1983).
Pimentel, D. & Pimentel, S. New directions for agriculture and agricultural research (ed. Dahlberg, K.A.) (Rowman and Allanheld, Totawa, NJ; 1986).
Shapouri, H., Duffield, J.A. & Graboski, M.S. Estimating the net energy balance of corn ethanol. Agricultural Economic Rep. No. 721 (USDA, Washington, DC; 1995).
Fossil fuels used in U.S. farming are 10% coal, 49% natural gas, and 40% petroleum.
US Department of Energy. Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, Manufacturing Consumption of Energy 1991. (Office of Energy, Markets and End Use, Washington DC; 1994).
Lee, S.-Y. & Choi, J.I. Polymer Degrad. Stability 59, 387–393 (1998).
van Wegen, R.J., Ling, Y. & Middelberg, A.P.J. Trans. I ChemE, Part A 76, 417–426 (1998).
Lee, S-Y. Trends Biotechnol. 14, 431–438 (1996).
Reese, K.M. Chem. Eng. News 67, 60 (1989).
Byrom D. 08/09/93 US Patent 5,364,778.
Source: USDA—Economic Research Service.
The census of manufacturing data for energy consumption is based on calendar years, whereas corn processing data is based on the harvesting cycle starting with September 1 of a given year. The data correlated are for the calendar year 1991 and the harvesting cycle starting September 1, 1990 and ending August, 31, 1991.
Hocking, M.B. Handbook of chemical technology and pollution control (Academic Press, San Diego; 1993).
Ulrich, G.D. A guide to chemical engineering. Process design and economics. (John Wiley & Sons, New York; 1984).
Atkinson, B. & Mavituna, F. Biochemical engineering and biotechnology handbook, 2nd edn. (Stockton Press, New York; 1991).
Charles, M. & Wilson, J. Bioprocess engineering. (eds Lydersen, B.J., D'Elia, N.A. & Nelson, K.L.) (John Wiley & Sons, New York; 1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gerngross, T. Can biotechnology move us toward a sustainable society?. Nat Biotechnol 17, 541–544 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/9843
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/9843
- Springer Nature America, Inc.
This article is cited by
-
Systematizing Microbial Bioplastic Production for Developing Sustainable Bioeconomy: Metabolic Nexus Modeling, Economic and Environmental Technologies Assessment
Journal of Polymers and the Environment (2023)
-
From beech wood to itaconic acid: case study on biorefinery process integration
Biotechnology for Biofuels (2018)
-
Preliminary integrated economic and environmental analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) biosynthesis
Bioresources and Bioprocessing (2016)
-
Influence of the operon structure on poly(3-hydroxypropionate) synthesis in Shimwellia blattae
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2014)
-
Attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) of polyitaconic acid production from northeast US softwood biomass
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (2013)