Renewable Biofuels

This comprehensive volume developed under the guidance of guest editors Prakash Lakshmanan and David Songstad features broad coverage of the topic of biofuels and its significance to the economy and to agriculture. These chapters were first published by In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology In Vitro Plant in 2009 and consists of 15 chapters from experts who are recognized both for their scientific accomplishments and global perspective in their assigned topics.

This book offers a complete introduction for novices to understand key concepts of biocatalysis and how to produce in-house enzymes that can be used for low-cost biofuels production. The authors discuss the challenges involved in the commercialization of the biofuel industry, given the expense of commercial enzymes used for lignocellulose conversion. They describe the limitations in the process, such as complexity of lignocellulose structure, different microbial communities’ actions and interactions for degrading the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulosic materials, hydrolysis mechanism and potential for bio refinery. Readers will gain understanding of the key concepts of microbial catalysis of lignocellulosic biomass, process complexities and selection of microbes for catalysis or genetic engineering to improve the production of bioethanol or biofuel

Biofuels Biofuels The use of biofuels is rapidly gaining momentum all over the world, and can be expected to have an ever increasing impact on the energy and agricultural sector in particular. Biofuels covers the use and conversion technologies of biomass as a renewable resource to produce bioenergy in a sustainable way, mainly in the form of liquid and gaseous biofuels. It gives a broad overview of biofuel developments from both a technical and an economical angle. The different production technologies for biofuels that exist or are under development are extensively covered in depth, dealing with both first generation as well as second generation technologies. Market developments in the sector, including trends on prices, markets and growth are also discussed. The link between the technical and economical developments are indicated throughout the text. The interactions between the technical, economical and ecological aspects are clearly expressed in this volume and are actually covered here for the first time in a single comprehensive volume. This comprehensive text will prove useful for chemists, biologists and engineers working in the emerging biofuels industry, for researchers and academics interested in the field, as well as for those active in conventional fuel companies. The book is also relevant to people active in policy or financing, either within the government, industry or academia. This volume offers an excellent source of useful information and allows reflection about the bio-based economy in general. Topics covered include: Process Technologies forBio-ethanol Production Process Technologies for Biodiesel Production Bio-based Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Production Biomass Digestion to Methane Biological Hydrogen Production Feedstocks for Biorefineries Sustainability of Biofuels

The petroleum age began about 150 years ago. Easily available energy has s- ported major advances in agriculture, industry, transportation, and indeed many diverse activities valued by humans. Now world petroleum and natural gas s- plies have peaked and their supplies will slowly decline over the next 40–50 years until depleted. Although small amounts of petroleum and natural gas will remain underground, it will be energetically and economically impossible to extract. In the United States, coal supplies could be available for as long as 40–50 years, depending on how rapidly coal is utilized as a replacement for petroleum and natural gas. Having been comfortable with the security provided by fossil energy, especially petroleum and natural gas, we appear to be slow to recognize the energy crisis in the U. S. and world. Serious energy conservation and research on viable renewable - ergy technologies are needed. Several renewable energy technologies already exist, but sound research is needed to improve their effectiveness and economics. Most of the renewable energy technologies are in uenced by geographic location and face problems of intermittent energy supply and storage. Most renewable technologies require extensive land; a few researchers have even suggested that one-half of all land biomass could be harvested in order to supply the U. S. with 30% of its liquid fuel! Some optimistic investigations of renewable energy have failed to recognize that only 0. 1% of the solar energy is captured annually in the U. S.

Biovalorisation of Wastes to Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels addresses advanced technologies for converting waste to biofuels and value-added products. Biovalorisation has several advantages over conventional bioremediation processes as it helps reduce the costs of bioprocesses. Examples are provided of several successfully commercialized technologies, giving insight into developing, potential processes for biovalorisation of different wastes. Different bioprocess strategies are discussed for valorising the wastes coming from the leather industry, olive oil industry, pulp and paper, winery, textile, and food industries, as well as aquaculture. A section on biorefinery for hydrocarbons and emerging contaminants is included to cover concepts on biodesulfurization of petroleum wastes, leaching of heavy metals from E - waste, and bioelectrochemical processes for CO2. Chapters on algal biorefinery are also included to focus on the technologies for conversion of CO2 sequestration and wastewater utilization. Biovalorisation of Wastes to Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels can be used as course material for graduate students in chemical engineering, chemistry, and biotechnology, and as a reference for industrial professionals and researchers who want to gain a basic understanding on the subject. Covers a wide range of topics, from the conversion of wastes to organic acids, biofuels, biopolymers and industrially relevant products Bridges the gap between academics and industry Written in a lucid and self-explanatory style Includes activities/quiz/critical questions

Biomass is the only renewable carbon source that can be converted into high value-added carbon products. This book presents a collection of studies on the conversion of catalytic biomass to renewable biofuels and biomaterials by chemical conversion, co-combustion technology, and biological conversion technology. The fundamentals and mechanisms of catalytic materials design, process optimization, product development, and by-product utilization are outlined. All articles were contributed by experts in catalysis and bioenergy fields to provide readers with a broad range of perspectives on cutting-edge applications. This book is an ideal reference guide for academic researchers and engineering technicians in the fields of catalytic material synthesis, biomass energy conversion, enzyme catalysis, pyrolysis, combustion, vaporization, and fermentation. It can also be used as a comprehensive reference source for university students in renewable energy science and engineering, agricultural engineering, thermal engineering, chemical engineering, material science, and environmental engineering. This book contains 12 articles: (1) “Catalytic Biomass to Renewable Biofuels and Biomaterials”; (2) “Experimental Design to Improve Cell Growth and Ethanol Production in Syngas Fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans”; (3) “Glycerol Acetylation Mediated by Thermally Hydrolysed Biosolids-Based Material”; (4) “Influence of Base-Catalyzed Organosolv Fractionation of Larch Wood Sawdust on Fraction Yields and Lignin Properties”; (5) “Ca-based Catalysts for the Production of High-Quality Bio-Oils from the Catalytic Co-Pyrolysis of Grape Seeds and Waste Tyres”; (6) “Synthesis of Diesel and Jet Fuel Range Cycloalkanes with Cyclopentanone and Furfural”; (7) “Gel-Type and Macroporous Cross-Linked Copolymers Functionalized with Acid Groups for the Hydrolysis of Wheat Straw Pretreated with an Ionic Liquid”; (8) “Role of Humic Acid Chemical Structure Derived from Different Biomass Feedstocks on Fe(III) Bioreduction Activity: Implication for Sustainable Use of Bioresources”; (9) “Selective Production of Terephthalonitrile and Benzonitrile via Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) with Ammonia over Ca(OH)2/Al2O3 Catalysts”; (10) “Experimental Studies on Co-Combustion of Sludge and Wheat Straw”; (11) “Carbonate-Catalyzed Room-Temperature Selective Reduction of Biomass-Derived 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan”; (12) “Clostridium sp. as Bio-Catalyst for Fuels and Chemicals Production in a Biorefinery Context”.

In the United States, we have come to depend on plentiful and inexpensive energy to support our economy and lifestyles. In recent years, many questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of our current pattern of high consumption of nonrenewable energy and its environmental consequences. Further, because the United States imports about 55 percent of the nation's consumption of crude oil, there are additional concerns about the security of supply. Hence, efforts are being made to find alternatives to our current pathway, including greater energy efficiency and use of energy sources that could lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as nuclear and renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. The United States has a long history with biofuels and the nation is on a course charted to achieve a substantial increase in biofuels. Renewable Fuel Standard evaluates the economic and environmental consequences of increasing biofuels production as a result of Renewable Fuels Standard, as amended by EISA (RFS2). The report describes biofuels produced in 2010 and those projected to be produced and consumed by 2022, reviews model projections and other estimates of the relative impact on the prices of land, and discusses the potential environmental harm and benefits of biofuels production and the barriers to achieving the RFS2 consumption mandate. Policy makers, investors, leaders in the transportation sector, and others with concerns for the environment, economy, and energy security can rely on the recommendations provided in this report.

Sustainable Biofuels: Opportunities and challenges, a volume in the “Applied Biotechnology Reviews series, explores the state-of-the-art in research and applied technology for the conversion of all types of biofuels. Its chapters span a broad spectrum of knowledge, from fundamentals and technical aspects to optimization, combinations, economics, and environmental aspects. They cover various facets of research, production, and commercialization of bioethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, biohydrogen, biobutanol, and biojet fuel. This book discusses biochemical, thermochemical, and hydrothermal conversion of unconventional feedstocks, including the role of biotechnology applications to achieve efficiency and competitiveness. Through case studies, techno-economic analysis and sustainability assessment, including life cycle assessment, it goes beyond technical aspects to provides actual resources for better decision-making during the development of commercially viable technology by researchers, PhD students, and practitioners in the field of bioenergy. It is also a useful resource for those in adjacent areas, such as biotechnology, industrial microbiology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and sustainability science, who are working on solutions for the bioeconomy. The ability to compare different technologies and their outcome that this book provides is also beneficial for energy analysts, consultants, planners, and policy-makers. The “Applied Biotechnology Reviews series highlights current development and research in biotechnology-related fields, combining in single-volume works the theoretical aspects and real-world applications for better decision-making. Covers current technologies and advancements in biochemical, thermochemical, and hydrothermal conversion methods for production of various types of biofuels from conventional and nonconventional feedstock Examines biotechnology processes, including genetic engineering of microorganisms and substrates, applied to biofuel production Bridges the gap between technology development and prospects of commercialization of bioprocesses, including policy and economics of biofuel production, biofuel value chains, and how to accomplish cost-competitive results and sustainable development

Biofuels for Aviation: Feedstocks, Technology and Implementation presents the issues surrounding the research and use of biofuels for aviation, such as policy, markets, certification and performance requirements, life cycle assessment, and the economic and technical barriers to their full implementation. Readers involved in bioenergy and aviation sectors—research, planning, or policy making activities—will benefit from this thorough overview. The aviation industry’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions along with increasing oil prices have sparked the need for renewable and affordable energy sources tailored to this sector’s very specific needs. As jet engines cannot be readily electrified, turning to biofuels is the most viable option. However, aviation is a type of transportation for which traditional biofuels, such as bioethanol and biodiesel, do not fulfill key fuel requirements. Therefore, different solutions to this situation are being researched and tested around the globe, which makes navigating this scenario particularly challenging. This book guides readers through this intricate subject, bringing them up to speed with its current status and future prospects both from the academic and the industry point of view. Science and technology chapters delve into the technical aspects of the currently tested and the most promising technology in development, as well as their respective feedstocks and the use of additives as a way of adapting them to meet certain specifications. Conversion processes such as hydrotreatment, synthetic biology, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and Fisher-Tropsch are explored and their results are assessed for current and future viability. Presents the current status of biofuels for the aviation sector, including technologies that are currently in use and the most promising future technologies, their production processes and viability Explains the requirements for certification and performance of aviation fuels and how that can be achieved by biofuels Explores the economic and policy issues, as well as life cycle assessment, a comparative techno-economic analysis of promising technologies and a roadmap to the future Explores conversion processes such as hydrotreatment, synthetic biology, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and Fisher-Tropsch

For anyone who is trying to keep up with the extremely rapid developments in the biodiesel industry, the second edition of Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy is an invaluable aid. The breathtaking speed with which biodiesel has gained acceptance in the marketplace in the past few years has been exceeded only by the proliferation of biodiesel production facilities around the United States--and the world--only to confront new social and environmental challenges and criticisms. The international survey of the biodiesel industry has been expanded from 40 to more than 80 countries, reflecting the spectacular growth of the industry around the world. This section also tracks the dramatic shifts in the fortunes of the industry that have taken place in some of these nations. The detailed chapters that cover the industry in the United States have also been substantially rewritten to keep abreast of its many new developments and explosive domestic growth. An expanded section on small-scale, local biodiesel production has been added to better represent this small but growing part of the industry. Another new section has been added to more fully explore the increasingly controversial issues of deforestation and food versus fuel, as well as GMO crops. The second edition concludes with updated views on where the industry is headed in the years to come from some of its key players.