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Selected Application Recommendations Biomass and Biochemical Conversion Applications have been increasing for processes which transform biomass or renewable resources into usable products. Most of the impetus has been energy related, but the technology has diverse relevance, such as various delignification processes associated with elemental chlorine -free pulp production. Raw materials include things like grain, wood, agricultural or animal wastes, and high cellulose content plants. Sometimes the processes involve pyrolysis or gasification steps to break down the complex molecules of the biomass into simpler building blocks such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, which in turn can be used as fuels or catalytically synthesized into other products, such as methanol. However, the most common biochemical conversion process is fermentation, in which simple sugars, under the mediation of yeasts or bacteria, are converted to ethanol. With lingo -cellulose or hemicellulose, the fermentation must be preceded by thermochemical treatments which digest or otherwise render the complex polymers in the biomass more accessible to enzymatic breakdown. These enzymes (often under acidic conditions) then enable hydrolysis of starches or polysaccharides into simple sugars suitable for fermentation into ethanol. Many of the conversion steps have other embodiments, such as the anaerobic digestion to produce methane for gaseous fuel. A great deal of technology and genetic engineering is evolving to enable or to improve the efficiency of these processes. It is expected that many of the process conditions can often be quite corrosive to metals, and FRP composites can offer distinct benefits. Bleaching Solutions Bleach solutions represent a variety of materials which display high oxidation potential, These include compounds or active radicals like chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, hypochlorite or peroxide. Under most storage conditions these materials are quite stable, but when activated, such as by changes in temperature, concentration, or pH, the bleaches are aggressive and begin to oxidize many metals and organic materials, including resins used in composites. Thus, resins need to display resistance to oxidation as well as to the temperature and pH conditions employed in the process. Most interest centers on bleaching operations employed in the pulp and paper industry, but similar considerations apply to industrial, disinfection, and water treatment applications. Bleach solutions are highly electrophilic and attack organic materials by reacting with sources of electrons, of which a readily available source is the residual unsaturation associated with an incomplete cure. Consequently, the resistance of composites to bleach environments demands a complete cure, preferably followed by post -curing. Since air -inhibited surfaces are especially susceptible to attack, a good paraffinated topcoat should be applied to non -contact surfaces, including the exterior, which may come into incidental contact with the bleach. BPO/ DMA curing systems are sometimes advocated for composites intended for bleach applications due to concerns over reaction with cobalt promoter involved in conventional MEKP/ DMA curing systems. While BPO/ DMA curing can offer appearance advantages, the conventional MEKP/ cobalt systems yield very dependable and predictable full extents of curing and thus have a good history of success.