Non-sugar feedstocks for industrial biomanufacturing: opportunities and challenges

Although sugars obtained from corn, sugarcane, and lignocellulosic materials have been proposed as the primary feedstocks for the biological production of fuels and chemicals, a number of non-sugar feedstocks have emerged over the last decade. These include agricultural and industrial streams rich in glycerol, fatty acids, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and short chain hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. Cost, availability, and the opportunity for higher product yields are among the drivers for the use of these feedstocks, but a number of challenges need to be overcome before their potential is realized. This talk will highlight opportunities and challenges on the use of these non-sugar feedstocks for industrial biomanufacturing.