bijproduct

Bijproduct is a term commonly used in Dutch to mean what is known in English as a byproduct. A byproduct is a secondary product that arises during the manufacture or processing of a primary product. It is not the main objective of the production, but it can be useful, valuable, or simply an incidental output. Byproducts can vary in value and handling, from materials that are recovered and sold to waste streams that require disposal or treatment.

In industry and manufacturing, byproducts stem from chemical reactions, processing steps, or raw-material transformations. They may be recycled or repurposed as inputs for other processes, sold as intermediate or finished materials, or used as energy sources. Common examples include materials recovered from fermentation, residual solids from processing plants, condensates from gas processing, and organic fractions that can be converted into fuels or chemicals. The treatment, storage, and regulatory compliance of byproducts depend on their composition and potential environmental impact.

Biology and ecology also use the term in a related sense: metabolic byproducts are substances produced as a consequence of physiological processes, such as carbon dioxide from respiration. In industrial ecology, the concept of byproducts is linked to approaches that minimize waste and create value through resource efficiency and byproduct synergy.

The term “bijproduct” may appear as a Dutch spelling or loanword for byproduct. In English, the standard terms are “byproduct” or, in some technical contexts, “co-product” or “value-added byproduct.” See also byproduct, waste management, and industrial ecology.