What does a biochemicals expert or biochemicals consultant do? First, let’s define biochemicals. Biochemicals are any materials that are derived from renewable biological resources such as plants or plant or animal wastes. Familiar examples include ethanol produced by fermentation, and acetic acid (vinegar), but also include a wide range of specialty chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Many of the biochemicals produced in the world today are used as intermediates in the preparation of more complex, higher value materials.
A biochemicals expert or biochemicals consultant is someone who has significant background in the area, through education and/or experience. They typically have degrees in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biochemistry. During their careers they may be involved in designing, manufacturing, testing, scaling-up, analyzing, or commercializing biochemicals, or several of these activities.
The biochemicals expert may assist clients in evaluating biochemical processes and investors in selecting the right biochemicals technology or biochemicals vendor and in preparing due diligence/feasibility studies and loan/grant applications. During the R&D stage, seasoned biochemicals experts can provide insights into advantaged techniques for developing biochemical processes and knowledge of the vast array of prior work that is relevant to the client’s interests. During the process design stage, the biochemicals expert may perform a peer review of the design, prepare risk assessments, and assist with vetting vendors. During plant construction, the biochemicals expert might assist with construction oversight of the biochemicals handling facilities and provide commissioning reports. They may also provide operator training, start-up assistance, and management to assist in making the facilities run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. In matters involving biochemicals litigation, the consultant may serve an expert witness and assist the attorneys with understanding the processes and related technical issues and may testify in court about biochemicals technology, performance, compositions, and related matters.
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in the more common areas like of bio and renewable fuels, biomaterials, biomass and biomass power, biomaterials, biochemicals and biotechnologies. But, they also have an expertise in a wide variety of specialty services like expert witness testimony, ag biotech, agricultural waste, alcohol fuels, algae biofuel, alternative proteins, animal-free products, beverage fermentation, bio-based chemicals, biocatalysis, biodiesel conversion, biogas production, biomass power, carbon intensity, co2 utilization, combined heat & power, conversion technologies, enzyme technologies, ethanol gas, Fischer-Tropsch, food waste, fuel additives, green energy grants, hydrothermal carbonization, industrial enzymes, industrial fermentation, landfill management, microbial fermentation, organic synthesis, plastic pyrolysis, plastic recycling, plastic waste, pyrolysis oil, railroad ties, reactor design, recycled plastics, renewable identification number, rfs2, solid recovered fuels, solid state fermentation, sustainable foods, technical feasibility studies, torrefied biomass, waste to energy technology, and waste-to-hydrogen. Renewable energy experts in these firms should be able to also assist with things like renewable energy finance, renewable energy insurance, techno-economic analysis, due diligence, and feasibility studies.
Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with over 100 highly qualified experts serving in all these areas. Take a look at our experts and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information. See also Federal R&D Programs for Biofuels and Biochemicals.
