Abstract
Before the rapid development of the petrochemical industry, many feedstocks for manufacturing paints, plastics, fibers, lubricants, adhesives, and a host of other products were derived from agriculture. Good examples are linseed, castor, tung, tall, and soybean oils; natural rubber, gums, starch and cellulose, and many sources of fiber from the plant kingdom, as well as hides, bones, and fats and oils from the animal kingdom. In addition to these traditional agricultural materials, several new plant sources have been developed through new crops research. Also, new ways have been developed for converting existing agricultural products to better chemical intermediates. Availability of farm land, economics of crop production, and competition with petroleum are such that agriculture should be considered seriously as a viable alternative for at least part of our chemical feedstock requirements.
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