Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels, and Chemicals serves as a comprehensive introduction to the subject for the student and educator, and is useful for researchers who are interested in the technical details of biomass energy production. The coverage and discussion are multidisciplinary, reflecting the many scientific and engineering disciplines involved. The book will appeal to a broad range of energy professionals and specialists, farmers and foresters who are searching for methods of selecting, growing, and converting energy crops, entrepreneurs who are commercializing biomass energy projects, and those involved in designing solid and liquid waste disposal-energy recovery systems. Presents a graduated treatment from basic principles to the details of specific technologies Includes a critical analysis of many biomass energy research and commercialization activities Proposes several new technical approaches to improve efficiencies, net energy production, and economics Reviews failed projects, as well as successes, and methods for overcoming barriers to commercialization Written by a leader in the field with 40 years of educational, research, and commercialization experience

Written for a wide variety of biotechnologists, this book provides a major review of the state-of-the-art in bioethanol production technologies, enzymatic biomass conversion, and biodiesel. It also provides a detailed explanation of a breakthrough in photosynthetic water splitting which could result in a doubling of the efficiency of solar energy conversion by green plants. The book covers production of lactic acid, succinic acid, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, and polyhydroxybutyrate and xylitol. It also includes a chapter on synthesis-gas fermentation.

Countless pages have been written on alternative energy sources since the fall of 1973 when our dependence on fossil petroleum resources became a grim reality. One such alternative is the use of biomass for producing energy and liquid and gaseous fuels. The term "biomass" generally refers to renewable organic matter generated by plants through photosynthesis. Thus trees, agri cultural crops, and aquatic plants are prime sources of biomass. Furthermore, as these sources of biomass are harvested and processed into commercial prod ucts, residues and wastes are generated. These, together with municipal solid wastes, not only add to the total organic raw material base that can be utilized for energy purposes but they also need to be removed for environmental reasons. Biomass has been used since antiquity for energy and material needs. In is still one of the most sought-after energy sources in most of the fact, firewood world. Furthermore, wood was still a dominant energy source in the U. S. only a hundred years ago (equal with coal). Currently, biomass contributes about 15 2 quadrillion Btu (l quad = 10 Btu) of energy to our total energy consump tion of about 78 quad. Two quad may not seem large when compared to the contribution made by petroleum (38 quad) or natural gas (20 quad), but bio mass is nearly comparable to nuclear energy (2. 7 quad).

This proceedings volume represents the culmination of nearly three years of planning, organizing and carrying out of a NATO Ad vanced Study Institute on Biomass Utilization. The effort was initi ated by Dr. Harry Sobel, then Editor of Biosources Digest, and a steering committee representing the many disciplines that this field brings together. . When the fiscal and logistical details of the original plan could not be worked out, the idea was temporarily suspended. In the spring of 1982, the Renewable Materials Institute of the State University of New York at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York revived the plan. A number of modifications had to be made, including the venue which was changed from the U.S.A. to Portugal. Additional funding beyond the basic support provided by the Scientific Affairs Division of NATO had to be obtained. Ul timately there were supplementary grants from the Foundation for Microbiology and the Anne S. Richardson Fund to assist student participants. The New York State College of Forestry Foundation, Inc. provided major support through the Renewable Ma terials Institute. The ASI was held in Alcabideche, Portugal from September 26 to October 9, 1982. Eighty participants including fifteen principal lecturers were assembled at the Hotel Sintra Estoril for the program that was organized as a comprehensive course on biomass utilization. The main lectures were supplemented by relevant short papers offered by the participants.

Industrial biorefineries have been identified as the most promising routes to the creation of a bio-based economy. Partial biorefineries already exist in some energy crop, forest-based, and lignocellulosic product facilities. Biorefineries: For Biomass Upgrading Facilities examines the variety of different technologies which integrated bio-based industries use to produce chemicals; biofuels; food and feed ingredients; biomaterials; and power from biomass raw materials. Conversion technologies are also covered, since biomass can be converted into useful biofuels and biochemicals via biomass upgrading and biorefinery technologies. Biorefineries: For Biomass Upgrading Facilities will prove a practical resource for chemical engineers, and fuel and environmental engineers. It will also be invaluable in academic fields, providing useful information for both researchers and students.

This book provides an introduction to the basic science and technologies for the conversion of biomass (terrestrial and aquatic) into chemicals and fuels, as well as an overview of innovations in the field. The entire value chain for converting raw materials into platform molecules and their transformation into final products are presented in detail. Both cellulosic and oleaginous biomass are considered. The book contains contributions by both academic scientists and industrial technologists so that each topic combines state-of-the-art scientific knowledge with innovative technologies relevant to chemical industries. Selected topics include: Refinery of the future: feedstock, processes, products The terrestrial and aquatic biomass production and properties Chemical technologies and biotechnologies for the conversion of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignine, algae, residual biomass Thermal, catalytic and enzymatic conversion of biomass Production of chemicals, polymeric materials, fuels (biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen) Policy aspects of biomass product chains LCA applied to the energetic, economic and environmental evaluation of the production of fuels from biomass: ethanol, biooil and biodiesel, biogas, biohydrogen

This book explains characteristics of renewable fuels, especially biomass and wood, and the cost-effective and environment-friendly methods of handling, storing and burning these fuels. It is complete with the economic evaluation method, introduction of the pollution control equipment for limiting the emission from fuel combustion, case studies, and costs and carbon emission comparisons between conventional and alternate fuels. Many case studies are introduced here too. This book is an update and expansion of the Industrial Wood Energy Handbook by a team from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1984. It introduces new technologies new technologies not available at the time of the early version.