By this time you probably have a good grasp on why we at Blue Marble Energy are producing biochemicals, but you may be wondering what are biochemicals. If you are a fan of Wikipedia you may have been further confused by the definition of biochemistry as the study of the chemical process in living organisms. Well, don’t fret because the term is relatively new.
Biochemicals are compounds that mirror the structure of synthetic chemicals but have been produced from natural or organic sources rather than oil. Biochemicals and green chemicals have been somewhat interchangeable terms, though the latter is simply a loose umbrella term for anything that represents a reduction of hazardous substances.
With the passage of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) began exploring new ways to develop or improve chemical products and processes that were less hazardous to humans and the environment. This marked the beginnings of an entirely new chemical industry. The goal was safer, cleaner yet still effective chemicals. Here at Blue Marble we have taken it a step further. Our driving principles in the production of biochemicals include:
Displacing petrochemicals with bioderived, carbon-neutral biochemicals from renewable feedstocks.
Designing biochemical products that are fully functional drop-in replacements to petrochemicals, with significantly reduced environmental and toxicological effects.
Producing biochemicals in a way that to prevents waste and leaves no waste to treat or clean up.
Now that we have an understanding of what biochemicals are, let us move on to discuss which biochemicals Blue Marble Energy is producing. BME makes various chain length organic acids which are processed into the following classes of bioderived materials: short chain esters, short chain amides, ammonia, and biogas containing CO2, H2, CH4, and H2S.
A few examples of Blue Marbles esters are:
Methyl-propionate: a short chain methyl ester with a fragrance characteristic of fresh rum, fruity and/or strawberry. This ester enjoys widespread utilization as a flavoring, but can also be reacted and polymerized to produce a biosourced form of methyl methacrylate which is used in the manufacturing of plastics. Because Blue Marble can produce all the components of MMA from biosourced materials we are able to completely displace the use of petroleum in the production of this product.
Ethyl-butyrate is a short chain ethyl-ester with a fragrance characteristically associated with pineapple and/or orange juice. This ester is the primary pineapple flavor in alcoholic drinks as well as a well used plasticizer for cellulose materials (such as cellophane).
Iso-propyl formate is an ethereal solvent with a cocoa scent profile. In high purity, and mixed with other carriers, it becomes a specialty solvent for pharmaceutical grade proteins.
Butyl-butyrate is an 8 carbon ester that has a heavy banana/pineapple scent. Blue Marble Energy is especially interested in butyl-butyrate for its freezing and boiling point properties which allows it to be used directly as a fuel, as an additive for fuels, and in extreme conditions as a lubricant component.
Methyl-valerate is a 6 carbon ester that is both a fragrance, plasticizer, and interestingly enough is used as a sedative in some Eastern European countries.
All of the short chain amides that BME produces are base components for further chemical synthesis. A small sampling of Blue Marble’s amides include: acetamide, butyramide, hexonamide, and caprionamide.
As an example, acetamide is currently showing good performance as a plasticizer for soy protein based biopolymers as an alternative to glycerol, as well as in other compounds. It is also widely used as a solvent, and as a component in lacquers and soldering flux.
Blue Marble’s green ammonia is completely bioderived from the degradation of proteins and amino acids in the fermentation process. It can be utilized as a fertilizer for agricultural production, in low concentrations as a household cleaner or disinfectant, and for power generation through combustion in compression engines.
Each of these biochemicals represents not only a decrease in toxic petrochemicals, but a decrease in the total carbon footprint of any product in which they find a home. Anyone care for an organic, carbon-neutral piña colada?
Blue Marble Biochemicals
Biochemicals are compounds that mirror the structure of synthetic chemicals but have been produced from natural or organic sources rather than oil. Biochemicals and green chemicals have been somewhat interchangeable terms, though the latter is simply a loose umbrella term for anything that represents a reduction of hazardous substances.
With the passage of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) began exploring new ways to develop or improve chemical products and processes that were less hazardous to humans and the environment. This marked the beginnings of an entirely new chemical industry. The goal was safer, cleaner yet still effective chemicals. Here at Blue Marble we have taken it a step further. Our driving principles in the production of biochemicals include:
Now that we have an understanding of what biochemicals are, let us move on to discuss which biochemicals Blue Marble Energy is producing. BME makes various chain length organic acids which are processed into the following classes of bioderived materials: short chain esters, short chain amides, ammonia, and biogas containing CO2, H2, CH4, and H2S.
A few examples of Blue Marbles esters are:
Methyl-propionate: a short chain methyl ester with a fragrance characteristic of fresh rum, fruity and/or strawberry. This ester enjoys widespread utilization as a flavoring, but can also be reacted and polymerized to produce a biosourced form of methyl methacrylate which is used in the manufacturing of plastics. Because Blue Marble can produce all the components of MMA from biosourced materials we are able to completely displace the use of petroleum in the production of this product.
Ethyl-butyrate is a short chain ethyl-ester with a fragrance characteristically associated with pineapple and/or orange juice. This ester is the primary pineapple flavor in alcoholic drinks as well as a well used plasticizer for cellulose materials (such as cellophane).
Iso-propyl formate is an ethereal solvent with a cocoa scent profile. In high purity, and mixed with other carriers, it becomes a specialty solvent for pharmaceutical grade proteins.
Butyl-butyrate is an 8 carbon ester that has a heavy banana/pineapple scent. Blue Marble Energy is especially interested in butyl-butyrate for its freezing and boiling point properties which allows it to be used directly as a fuel, as an additive for fuels, and in extreme conditions as a lubricant component.
Methyl-valerate is a 6 carbon ester that is both a fragrance, plasticizer, and interestingly enough is used as a sedative in some Eastern European countries.
All of the short chain amides that BME produces are base components for further chemical synthesis. A small sampling of Blue Marble’s amides include: acetamide, butyramide, hexonamide, and caprionamide.
As an example, acetamide is currently showing good performance as a plasticizer for soy protein based biopolymers as an alternative to glycerol, as well as in other compounds. It is also widely used as a solvent, and as a component in lacquers and soldering flux.
Blue Marble’s green ammonia is completely bioderived from the degradation of proteins and amino acids in the fermentation process. It can be utilized as a fertilizer for agricultural production, in low concentrations as a household cleaner or disinfectant, and for power generation through combustion in compression engines.
Each of these biochemicals represents not only a decrease in toxic petrochemicals, but a decrease in the total carbon footprint of any product in which they find a home. Anyone care for an organic, carbon-neutral piña colada?