Bio-based Chemicals and Enzymes: India’s BioE3 Priority
Why in the news
Under its BioE3 Policy, the Department of Biotechnology is giving priority to chemicals and enzymes made from biological material, hoping to green manufacturing and trim petrochemical imports.
Key facts
- Bio-based chemicals come from renewable biological feedstock, not fossil fuels: sugarcane, corn, starch, farm residues, biomass.
- Routes: fermentation, microbial processing, enzymatic conversion.
- Enzymes are mostly protein catalysts that speed up reactions; they are made by microbial fermentation, then purified and formulated.
Uses
| Field | Examples |
|---|---|
| Chemicals | Lactic acid and other organic acids, bio-alcohols, solvents |
| Medicines | Making drugs and vaccines |
| Food | Brewing, baking, dairy |
| Textiles and detergents | Treating fabric, removing stains |
| Clean technology | Bioplastics, biofuels, green manufacturing |
Exam angle
- Nodal department: Biotechnology; policy: BioE3.
- Enzymes act as biological catalysts.