This book will attempt to provide an account of knowledge on biomass available for biomass-based biorefineries. Its focuses on understanding the recalcitrance of biomass and how it limits the overall conversion efficiency. It also gives an insight what are different conventional approaches available for pretreatment and hydrolysis of the biomass. The chapters deals with highlights how enzymes can be a powerhouse and play pioneering roles in biomass valorization. The book will also throw light on how technical aspects of thermochemical conversion strategies such as pyrolysis, gasification, organosolv methods for the generation of value-added materials such as high-quality bio-oil, biochars, and biobased chemicals. These high-value compounds can be put to widespread application in biofuel, biocatalyst, waste bioremediation (heavy metal removal), air purification and effluent treatment applications. The book will provide literature on the limitations of already existing technologies and provide prospects of each technology. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, bioenergy scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of energy studies, chemical engineering, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. National and international energy scientists and policymakers will also find this to be a useful read.

Biomass presents an attractive source for the production of fuels and chemicals, mainly due to the concerns over the depleting fossil fuel, growing awareness of environmental issues associated with fossil fuel consumption, and increasing world energy demand. Biomass resources include agricultural and forest residues, energy crops, livestock residues as well as municipal solid waste. These biomass resources are first processed into a conversion-friendly form, followed by the transformation to a wide range of energy and/or chemical products using two primary biorefinery platforms: biochemical and thermochemical. This book covers the most recent advances in biomass processing, biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies, and thus, serves as a useful reference to agriculture engineers, chemical engineers, biotechnology engineers and engineering students. The contents of the book are divided into three sections: biomass overview and processing, biomass thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies, and integrated biorefinery processes.

Written by a team of industry experts and edited by one of the most prolific and well-respected engineering authors in the industry, this exciting new volume covers the latest processes, equipment, and applications for clean biofuel production. With renewable and alternative energy sources becoming more and more important, and the growth in percentage of the overall energy used, biofuels production is more important than ever and is a huge part of taking up the slack in the transition from fossil fuels. This volume covers many of the newest state-of-the art processes, trends, and changes in the industry, combining information from many disciplines to deliver have-to-have solutions for the engineer or scientist’s daily problems. Whether in the plant or in the classroom, this exciting new volume is a must-have for any engineer, scientist, student, or other industry professional working in biofuel production. Audience Engineers, scientists, faculty and students, and industry professionals working in the biofuel industry.

Hydrogen has wide applications across many industries, including petroleum refineries, hydrotreating processes, and metallurgy applications. In addition, a number of valuable chemicals, such as ammonia, alcohols, and acids, are manufactured directly or indirectly with hydrogen. Hydrogen Applications and Technologies covers the utilization of hydrogen in petrochemical products, vehicles, and power generation systems, as well as in refinery hydrotreating, metallurgy, welding, annealing, and the heat‐treating of metals. Describes the application of hydrogen in producing valuable chemicals in detail Comprehensively discusses hydrogen utilization as an energy source Covers the application of hydrogen in power generation systems and across various industries Reviews hydrogen’s role as an agent in chemical reactions Part of the multivolume Handbook of Hydrogen Production and Applications, this stand-alone book guides researchers and academics in chemical, environmental, energy, and related areas of engineering interested in development and implementation of hydrogen production technologies.

AGRO-WASTE DERIVED BIOPOLYMERS AND BIOCOMPOSITES This comprehensive book describes the fundamental principles and major advancements in the utilization of agro-waste for deriving biopolymers, and their applications to fabricate composite, nanocomposite, and hybrid food packaging films and coatings. The book serves as a complete, systematic, comprehensive account of the contemporary developments in the area of novel and environment-friendly valorization of agro- and food wastes into value-added products like biodegradable polymer and active functional agents for food packaging applications. It also describes the hurdles and challenges in the commercialization of these novel biopolymer-based materials, including their composites, their applications, safety, and legal ramifications. This book consists of fifteen chapters covering different aspects of agro- and food waste utilization, the development of biodegradable polymers, and their composites for sustainable food packaging applications. The first thirteen chapters detail the processing of various agro- and food wastes of plant and animal origin to synthesize different biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, silk proteins, pectin, etc., and their applications for the fabrication of sustainable food packaging materials and composites that are attractive alternatives to synthetic plastic packaging. These chapters also summarize the effectiveness of these biopolymers and their composites in developing active films and edible coatings for shelf-life extension and preservation of perishable foods. A chapter is devoted to issues of biodegradability, including analyses of various biodegradation reactions, such as depolymerization, mineralization, biochemical, and abiotic degradation both in soil and aquatic environments. The book concludes with a chapter addressing the concerns associated with the possible migration of components or additives from these biodegradable packaging into packaged food items. Audience The primary audience for this book is researchers, scientists, and engineers working in food science and technology, food engineering and technology, food biotechnology, sustainable food packaging, etc. Additionally, food entrepreneurs and associated businesses, such as the packaging and coatings industries, will also have a keen interest in the book.