This book presents and summarizes the new thoughts, new methods and new achievements that have emerged in the biotechnology of lignocellulose in recent years. It proposes new concepts including the primary refining, fractionation, multi-level utilization and selective structural separation of lignocellulose, etc. By approaching lignocellulose as a multi-level resource, biotechnology could have a significant effect on ecological agriculture, bio-energy, the chemical and paper making industries, etc., ultimately establishing distinctive eco-industrial parks for lignocellulose. Additionally, this book provides systematic research methods for the biotechnology of lignocellulose including investigation methods for the primary refining of lignocellulose, for microbial degradation and enzymatic hydrolysis, for cellulose fermentation and for lignocellulose conversion processes. It offers an excellent reference work and guide for scientists engaging in research on lignocellulose. Dr. Hongzhang Chen is a Professor at the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

The agricultural and forestry processing wastes (lignocellulosics) are an important material resource and energy source. However, if untreated they can pose a danger to the environment and potentially valuable resources. Microorganisms contribute significantly to solving the problem of biomass degradation, its recycling and conservation. In the recent years, an increasing interest shown by the textile, food, feed & pulp, and paper industries in the microbial and enzymatic processes has triggered in-depth studies of lignocellulolytic microorganisms and their enzymes. Moreover, the advent of recombinant DNA technology in the late 1970s further paved the way for developing technologies based on lignocellulolytic microbes and enzymes. Lignocellulose Biotechnology presents a comprehensive review of the research directed towards environmentally friendly agricultural and forest by-products. The book comprises 22 chapters, divided in four sections. It deals with a wide range of topics including biodiversity of lignocellulose degrading microorganisms and their enzymes, molecular biology of biodegradation of lignin, characterization of lignocellulolytic enzymes, bioconversion of plant biomass to produce enzymes, animal feed, bioethanol and industrial applications of lignocellulolytic enzymes. The chapters dealing with industrial applications also address current biotechnological approaches in lignocellulose bioconversion to value added products. This book is essential for students, researchers, scientists, and engineers working in the fields of environmental microbiology, environmental biotechnology, life sciences, waste management, and biomaterials.

Lignocellulose for Future Bioeconomy discusses the conversion and utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. This book focuses on the utilization of lignocelluloses for various products, including biopolymers, bionanomaterials and bioproducts. Recent findings in scientific investigation, engineering, product development, economic and lifecycle analysis are discussed, as are current synthesis technologies and potential applications. The book progresses from a discussion of the potential sources of biomass, to the refinement and processing of materials. A sampling of various sustainability issues faced by industries in their production methods and a look at real world examples of the use of lignocellulose-based materials in the bioeconomy round out the discussion. - Presents information on lignocellulosic biomass management and its utilization for the production of bioproducts, biopolymers and bionanomaterials - Highlights the applications of advanced materials developed from lignocellulosic biomass and their contribution towards future bioeconomy - Discusses the lifecycle of lignocellulosic biomass

This book covers the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production as well as other industrial applications such as in biotechnology, paper and pulp, chemical and bioplastics. Lignocellulosic materials such as agricultural residues (e.g., wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, corn stover), forest products (hardwood and softwood), and crops such as switchgrass and salix, are becoming a potent source for generating valuable products. Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Industrial Applications describes the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for various applications. Although there have been numerous reports on lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel application, there have been very few other applications reported for lignocellulosic biomass-based biotechnology, chemicals and polymers. This book covers both application areas. Besides describing the various types of biofuel production, such as bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel and biogas from lignocellulosic biomass, it also presents various other lignocellulosic biomass biorefinery applications for the production of enzymes, chemicals, polymers, paper and bioplastics. In addition, there are chapters on valorization of lignocellulosic materials, alkali treatment to improve the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of lignocellulosic natural fibers, and a discussion of the major benefits, limitations and future prospects of the use of lignocellulosic biomass.

A text to the advances and development of novel technologies in the production of high-value products from economically viable raw materials Lignocellulosic Biorefining Technologiesis an essential guide to the most recent advances and developments of novel technologies in the production of various high-value products from economically viable raw materials. Written by a team of experts on the topic, the book covers important topics specifically on production of economical and sustainable products such as various biofuels, organic acids, enzymes, biopigments, biosurfactants, etc. The book highlights the important aspects of lignocellulosic biorefining including structure, function, and chemical composition of the plant cell wall and reviews the details about the various components present in the lignocellulosic biomass and their characterizations. The authors explore the various approaches available for processing lignocellulosic biomass into second generation sugars and focus on the possibilities of utilization of lignocellulosic feedstocks for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Each chapter includes a range of clear, informative tables and figures, and contains relevant references of published articles. This important text: Provides cutting-edge information on the recent developments in lignocellulose biorefinery Reviews production of various economically important and sustainable products, such as biofuels, organic acids, biopigments, and biosurfactants Highlights several broad-ranging areas of recent advances in the utilization of a variety of lignocellulosic feedstocks Provides a valuable, authoritative reference for anyone interested in the topic Written for post-graduate students and researchers in disciplines such as biotechnology, bioengineering, forestry, agriculture, and chemical industry, Lignocellulosic Biorefining Technologies is an authoritative and updated guide to the knowledge about various biorefining technologies.

Biomass Fractionation Technologies for a Lignocellulosic Feedstock-based Biorefinery reviews the extensive research and tremendous scientific and technological developments that have occurred in the area of biorefinering, including industrial processes and product development using 'green technologies', often referred as white biotechnology. As there is a huge need for new design concepts for modern biorefineries as an alternative and amendment to industrial crude oil and gas refineries, this book presents the most important topics related to biomass fractionation, including advances, challenges, and perspectives, all with references to current literature for further study. Presented in 26 chapters by international field specialists, each chapter consists of review text that comprises the most recent advances, challenges, and perspectives for each fractionation technique. The book is an indispensable reference for all professionals, students, and workers involved in biomass biorefinery, assisting them in establishing efficient and economically viable process technologies for biomass fractionation. - Provides information on the most advanced and innovative pretreatment processes and technologies for biomass - Reviews numerous valuable products from lignocellulose - Discusses integration of processes for complete biomass conversion with minimum waste generation - Identifies the research gaps in scale-up - Presents an indispensable reference for all professionals, students, and workers involved in biomass biorefinery, assisting them in establishing efficient and economically viable process technologies for biomass fractionation

Bioethanol has been recognized as a potential alternative to petroleum-derived transportation fuels. Even if cellulosic biomass is less expensive than corn and sugarcane, the higher costs for its conversion make the near-term price of cellulosic ethanol higher than that of corn ethanol and even more than that of sugarcane ethanol. Conventional process for bioethanol production from lignocellulose includes a chemical/physical pre-treatment of lignocellulose for lignin removal, mostly based on auto hydrolysis and acid hydrolysis, followed by saccharification of the free accessible cellulose portions of the biomass. The highest yields of fermentable sugars from cellulose portion are achieved by means of enzymatic hydrolysis, currently carried out using a mix of cellulases from the fungus Trichoderma reesei. Reduction of (hemi)cellulases production costs is strongly required to increase competitiveness of second generation bioethanol production. The final step is the fermentation of sugars obtained from saccharification, typically performed by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The current process is optimized for 6-carbon sugars fermentation, since most of yeasts cannot ferment 5-carbon sugars. Thus, research is aimed at exploring new engineered yeasts abilities to co-ferment 5- and 6-carbon sugars. Among the main routes to advance cellulosic ethanol, consolidate bio-processing, namely direct conversion of biomass into ethanol by a genetically modified microbes, holds tremendous potential to reduce ethanol production costs. Finally, the use of all the components of lignocellulose to produce a large spectra of biobased products is another challenge for further improving competitiveness of second generation bioethanol production, developing a biorefinery.