Bio-based Chemicals

• 18 Feb 2026

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Bio-based chemicals represent a strategic sector for India to leverage its agricultural base, reduce import dependence on petrochemicals, and align with global sustainability goals. 

What are Bio-based Chemicals? 

• About: Bio-based chemicals are chemical substances derived wholly or in part from renewable biological resources (plants, agricultural residues, forestry materials, marine sources, algae) rather than from fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, or coal.   
  • Enzymes are biological catalysts widely used in detergents, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, pulp and paper, and increasingly in biomanufacturing, often working at lower temperatures and pressures to reduce energy use and emissions. 
• Production Methods: Production typically involves biorefineries where biomass feedstocks undergo processes such as fermentation, enzymatic conversion, thermochemical treatment, or catalytic upgrading. 
  • Common methods include microbial fermentation of sugars or starches to produce organic acids and alcohols, or extraction and modification of plant-derived oils and lignocellulosic materials. 
• Examples of Bio-based Chemicals: 

Chemical	Production Method	Applications
Lactic acid	Fermentation of carbohydrates	Biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid), food preservatives, cosmetics
Succinic acid	Derived from glucose/sugars	Intermediate for polymers, solvents, pharmaceuticals
Bio-based glycerol	By-product of biodiesel production	Pharmaceuticals, personal care, chemical feedstock
Bio-ethanol and bio-butanol	Fermentation	Solvents, fuels, chemical building blocks
1,3-Propanediol	Fermented from glycerol/sugars	Polyesters for textiles, cosmetics, industrial uses
Bio-based surfactants and lubricants	Derived from plant oils	Detergents, paints, adhesives

• India's Current Status and Potential: India has strong fundamentals including a large agricultural base, deep expertise in fermentation from pharmaceuticals and vaccines, and a growing manufacturing sector.  
  • Expanding this space could reduce import dependence on petrochemicals (e.g., India imported USD 479.8 million worth of acetic acid in 2023), create new markets for agricultural produce, and position India as a competitive supplier of sustainable industrial inputs.  
  • India has prioritised bio-based chemicals and enzymes under the Department of Biotechnology's BioE3 policy. 
• Global Best Practices:  
  • European Union: The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan provides coordinated support for bio-based chemicals as part of circular bioeconomy goals. 
  • United States: The USDA BioPreferred Program mandates federal procurement preference for certified bio-based products, creating early markets for producers. 
  • China: National bioeconomy development plans explicitly prioritise high-value bio-based chemicals and enzyme technologies as strategic sectors. 
• Advantages: Principal advantages include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, decreased dependence on non-renewable resources, enhanced biodegradability, and alignment with circular economy principles through the valorisation of agricultural and industrial waste streams. 
• Risks and Challenges: Key risks include low cost competitiveness against petrochemicals, which deters private investment during scale-up, and uncertainty over reliable feedstock availability and infrastructure.  
  • Market adoption also poses a challenge, as manufacturers may be reluctant to switch from existing inputs even when costs are comparable. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What are bio-based chemicals? 
Bio-based chemicals are industrial chemicals derived from renewable biomass (plants, residues, algae) instead of fossil fuels, often produced through fermentation or enzymatic processes. 

2. Why are enzymes important in the bio-based chemical sector? 
Enzymes act as biological catalysts, enabling low-temperature, low-energy industrial processes in detergents, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and biomanufacturing. 

3. Why is India focusing on bio-based chemicals? 
India aims to reduce petrochemical import dependence (e.g., USD 479.8 million acetic acid imports in 2023), leverage its agricultural base, and align with sustainability goals under the BioE3 policy. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Q. Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to (2013)

1. resist drought and increase absorptive area 
2. tolerate extremes of pH 
3. resist disease infestation 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d) 

Q. Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (2012)

1. To enable them to withstand drought  
2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce  
3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations  
4. To increase their shelf life  

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:  

(a) 1 and 2 only  

(b) 3 and 4 only  

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only  

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4  

Ans: (c)