By Kevin Tutani
Biomaterials are products derived from plant matter or other organic (biodegradable) waste.
The plant matter used in the manufacturing of biomaterials includes trees and other constituents of forests, agricultural produce (sugarcane, soya beans, maize, etc.), agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse, maize stalks, wheat straw, etc.), niche agricultural crops (hemp, agave, etc), and other organic waste (sewage sludge, household food waste, industrial waste, etc).
Biomaterials produced from these inputs include industrial chemicals (citric acid, lactic acid, butanol, iso-butanol, etc), fibres for the manufacturing of textiles, plastics made from plants (bioplastics), ethanol fuel, biogas, and composite (mixed) products made from both petrochemicals and biomaterials.
An example of composite products made from biomaterials (also known as bio-composites) is plastic, which is composed of both bioplastics and traditional plastics. Bio-composites are particularly popular for use in internal panels of vehicles or aeroplanes.
Bio-composites are sought after because bioplastics provide a cleaner raw material than petrochemicals used to make traditional plastics. Traditional plastics are produced using crude oil, a process notorious for releasing greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution into the atmosphere.
While petrochemicals are generally cheaper to produce than bioplastics, bioplastics are not associated with the emission of environmentally damaging gases or pollution. Therefore, combining bioplastics with traditional plastics in the manufacturing of composite industrial products is desirable due to its environmental sustainability.
It is important to note that Zimbabwe, for example, can only realistically focus on a select few biomaterials in which it can develop a competitive advantage. This limitation stems from the high capital costs typically associated with establishing biomaterials industries. As such, when a nation decides to participate in biomaterial production, it should carefully select the materials in which it possesses competence.
Biomaterials also play a vital role in recycling organic waste. For instance, when a country uses agricultural waste (maize stalks, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, etc.) productively, the need to incinerate or send waste to landfills is reduced. This creates job opportunities and supports economic growth.
The Four Stages of Biomaterials Production
There are four stages involved in biomaterials production. The first step involves collecting appropriate feedstock, which may consist of agricultural products, agricultural waste, sewage waste, or municipal solid waste (including household refuse). Initially, the feedstock is broken down into its basic constituents, such as starch, cellulose, sucrose, fibre, or biogas.
Different technologies and processes are employed, depending on the desired chemicals, materials, or products. For example, to produce biogas, agricultural waste, sewage, or organic municipal waste are fed into a biodigester. In contrast, to produce chemicals, agricultural products like maize or sugarcane may be heated in a boiler to harvest specific chemical components from the plant matter.
Biomaterials industries can sell their products as intermediate goods, such as platform chemicals (citric acid, butanol, lactic acid leaching, etc), which are crucial for other industrial processes, or fibre for manufacturing textiles and bioplastics.
Alternatively, they can sell their products as manufactured end products, such as clothing, bioplastics, or electricity generated from biogas.
Zimbabwe stands to benefit greatly if local policymakers choose a range of biomaterials the country can competitively produce. As mentioned, this would lead to job creation, improved national economic performance, and competence in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly products.
The world has made significant progress in manufacturing certain biomaterials. However, there remains room for innovation and improvement in several other biomaterials. Gaining a competitive advantage in specific biomaterials can lead to success in the global market, with increased exports.
Various local stakeholders will be crucial in the development of local biomaterials industries. These include the government’s Scientific and Industrial Research Development Centre (SIRDC), other government research agencies, local universities, and innovative private sector businesses.
At present, Zimbabwe may choose to focus on a few biomaterials, including ethanol production for vehicle fuel and thermal power stations, biogas harvesting for power generation, waste-to-energy power plants for municipal waste incineration, hemp and agave cultivation for textiles, seaweed and algae cultivation in arid regions for biofuels, citric acid production at an exportable scale, and bioplastics manufacturing.
Barriers to Growth
Research aimed at discovering new innovations in biomaterials is typically funded by governments because private companies have little incentive to fund research on materials for which substitutes already exist.
Many biomaterials mimic existing products such as traditional plastics, synthetic textiles, and fossil fuels. These conventional products are often cheaper to produce than biomaterials. Consequently, private businesses tend to favour the products biomaterials seek to replicate.
However, with further research and large-scale production, biomaterials are likely to become more cost-effective in the future. It is also important to note that while governments fund most biomaterials research, private companies are the primary users of the innovations discovered.
For countries working with biomaterials to produce biogas or energy through the incineration of waste, a solid waste management strategy is crucial. A scarcity of feedstock (raw materials) could deter investors interested in establishing biorefinery facilities, such as power stations using organic waste.
A lack of municipal waste collection, for example, could lead to operational losses or shutdowns of such plants. Therefore, in order to encourage the establishment of bio-refineries in Zimbabwe, supporting services that provide inputs to these factories must be effectively functional. The current challenges in waste collection by local authorities suggest that bio-refineries, which rely on organic waste, may be hesitant to invest in the country at this time.
In some cases, policymakers may pursue value chains in which the country has no competitive advantage compared to nations already producing the chosen products. Hence, careful discretion is required when determining the most suitable value chains for a particular country.
Overcoming Barriers
To encourage private investment in bio-refineries (biomaterials factories), the government must establish and coordinate various institutions responsible for researching key biomaterials in which Zimbabwe has a competitive advantage. These facilities should be equipped with suitable equipment and personnel and located in appropriate areas within the country.
While only a few tertiary qualifications currently offer studies in biomaterials production, local universities should be encouraged to offer relevant courses that align with the industry’s skills requirements, should significant bio-refineries be established. Bio-refineries should also be encouraged to offer vocational training and cooperate with local tertiary institutions on research and skills development.
Existing bio-refineries, such as Green Fuel Zimbabwe and Hippo Valley Estates, should be encouraged to use their facilities to develop local skills as much as possible. Collaboration with international educational and research institutions should also be promoted.
To ensure the availability of inputs for bio-refineries, support services such as waste collection, sanitation, and transportation infrastructure must be effectively managed.
The cultivation of crops like sorghum, cactus, algal biomass, agave, and seaweed in Zimbabwe’s arid regions offers significant potential for bio-refineries. Provinces such as Matabeleland North and South, and Masvingo, with their less agriculturally favourable geographical features, can become economically productive by growing these crops. These plants require minimal water or can thrive on wastewater (including sewage).
Sorghum, for example, uses half the water required for sugar-based crops. Its high biomass and sugar content make it suitable for producing biofuels, industrial chemicals, bioplastics, resins, rubber, etc.
Seaweed and algae can be cultivated in the country’s dry provinces, producing various products such as stock feed, textiles, and even crude oil through pyrolysis. Agave, primarily cultivated for sisal fibre used in textiles and ropes, can also be used to produce sweeteners and pharmaceutical ingredients.
Bio-refineries using organic waste traditionally sent to landfills can also be granted tax incentives, lowering their tax burden and addressing the issue of pollution.
Conclusion
Biomaterials are gaining global prominence due to their environmentally friendly production processes. Given the world’s growing concerns about environmental sustainability, it is crucial for progressive nations to develop a greater interest in biomaterials.
Zimbabwe needs to identify the biomaterials in which it can gain a competitive advantage and focus on developing bio-refineries in those areas. T
his will help reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional manufacturing and contribute to the creation of a circular economy, where organic waste is repurposed for economic development rather than being discarded in landfills.
Kevin Tutani is a political economy analyst – [email protected]
