Biofuels

Evaluating a wealth of quantitative data, Biofuels: Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Sustainable Development discusses different types of biofuels, the science behind their production, the economics of their introduction to the marketplace, their environmental impacts, and their implications for world agriculture. It broadens the discussion on biofuels beyond bioethanol and biodiesel, taking into account the data, ideas, and bioproducts that have appeared over the last 50 years. An Insider's Look at the Biotech Industry Written by a seasoned expert in the biotech industry, the book analyzes in detail the present status and future prospects of biofuels, from ethanol and biodiesel to biotechnological routes to biohydrogen. It emphasizes the ways biotechnology can improve process economics as well as facilitate sustainable agroindustries and crucial elements of a biobased economy. The author also explores the additional innovations required in microbial and plant biotechnology, metabolic engineering, bioreactor design, and the genetic manipulation of novel biomass species of plants, such as softwoods and algae. The Role of Biofuels in the Future With over 1,000 references and nearly 200 graphs and tables of data, this well-researched, comprehensive work examines the past and present of various biofuels while considering the future of a biocommodity economy.

Preface. Historical Development of Bioethanol as a Fuel. Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology of Lignocellulosic Biomass. Biotechnology of Bioethanol Production from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks. Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocess Management for Fuel Ethanol. The Economics of Bioethanol. Diversifying the Biofuels Portfolio. Radical Options for the Development of Biofuels. Biofuels as Products of Integrated Bioprocesses. Index.