288 • Impacts of Applied Genetics— Micro-Organisms, Plants, and Animals 
Table 
-B-28.— Aliphatics: Technical Information 
Compound 
Typical synthetic 
process 
Typical precursor 
Is precursor 
renewable/non- 
renewable 
limited 
Alternate 
precursor by 
fermentation^ 
Time to implement 
commercial fermentation by 
genetically engineered 
strain^* 
Acetic acid 
chemical 
methanol 
or ethanol 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Acrylic acid 
chemical 
ethylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
lOyrs. 
Adipic acid 
chemical 
phenol 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Bis(2-ethylhexyl). . 
adipate 
chemical 
phenol 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Citronellal 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Citronellol 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Ethanol 
chemical 
ethylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
5 yrs. 
Ethanolamine 
chemical 
ethylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Ethylene glycol . . . . 
chemical 
ethylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
5 yrs. 
Ethylene oxide 
chemical 
ethylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
5 yrs. 
Geraniol 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Glycerol 
chemical 
soap manuf. 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
5 yrs. 
Isobutylene 
chemical 
petroleum 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Itaconicacid 
fermentation 
molasses 
renewable 
.... 
5 yrs. 
Linalool 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Linalyl acetate 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Methane 
chemical 
natural gas 
nonrenewable 
sewage 
10 yrs. 
Nerol 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
Pentaerythritol . . . . 
chemical 
acetaldehyde & 
formaldehyde 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Propionic acid 
chemical 
ethanol & 
carbon monoxide 
limited 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Propylene glycol . . 
chemical 
propylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
10 yrs. 
Sorbic acid 
chemical 
crotonaldehyde & 
malonic acid 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
15yrs. 
Sorbitol 
chemical 
glucose 
renewable 
.... 
10 yrs. 
Qf-terpineol 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
a-terpinyl acetate . 
chemical 
isobutylene 
nonrenewable 
glucose 
20 yrs. 
^Wherever glucose is mentioned, other carbohydrates may be substituted, including starch and cellulose. 
^In many cases these times are based on more readily developed fermentations using nonrenewable or limited hydrocarbons as precursors. 
SOURCE: Compiied by Genex Corp. from data in references 4, 33, 34, and 35. 
Table l-B-29.— Aromatics: Market Information 
Current market data 
Compound 
Market 
volume 
1,0001b 
Bulk cost 
$/lb 
Market value 
($ millions) 
Aniline 
187,767 
0.42 
78.9 
Aspirin 
32,247 
1.41 
45.5 
Benzoic acid 
36,822 
0.47 
17.3 
Cinnamaldehyde . . . . 
1,098 
2.10 
3.4 
Cresols 
94,932 
0.54 
51.2 
Diisodecyl 
phthalate 
151,319 
0.42 
63.6 
Dioctyl phthalate. . . . 
391,131 
0.42 
164.3 
p-acetaminophenol . . 
20,000 
2.65 
53.0 
Phenol 
1,431,000 
0.36 
515.2 
Phthalic anhydride . . 
646,289 
0.40 
258.5 
SOURCE: Compiled by Cenex Corp. from data in references 1 and 9. 
