What is it?
Bio-based energetic materials (Bio-EM) utilizes energy-dense materials derived from renewable biological sources. These materials can be used as propellants, explosives, or pyrotechnics, offering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based energetics, with interest growing of late in the mining sector. Compounds extracted from biomass, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, can be used to synthesize energetic materials, and nitrocellulose, a highly flammable compound derived from cellulose, is used in propellants and explosives. High-energy-density bio-based oils and other compounds are also being developed for energetic applications.
Why is it important?
Bio-based energetics derived from renewable resources, reduce dependence on finite fossil fuels in already polluting industries. In the synthesis of energetic materials, large amounts of strong acids and hazardous solvents are often required. Significant quantities of waste are produced and in many cases these waste materials are contaminated with toxic metals or with EM and thus require special disposal methods. Processing of EM into propellants explosives or pyrotechnics can be both hazardous and waste producing.
What industries will it impact?
Defense and military, Aerospace, Mining, Fireworks and pyrotechnics, Agriculture.
Market players
Mainly at the research stage, however bio-based energetic materials is a potentially large growth industry in mining and oil & gas.