BIOENERGY:PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONSBIOENERGY: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONSWith growing concerns over climate change and energy insecurity coupled with dwindling reserves of fossil energy resources, there is a growing search for alternative, renewable energy resources. Energy derived from renewable bioresources such as biomass (energy crops, agri- and forest residues, algae, and biowastes) has received significant attention in recent...

This brief outlines the most recent advances in the production of polyols and polyurethanes from renewable resources, mainly vegetable oils, lignocellulosic biomass, starch, and protein. The typical processes for the production of polyols from each of the above mentioned feedstocks are introduced and the properties of the resultant polyols and polyurethanes are also discussed.