Handbook of Cellulosic Ethanol

Download or read book Handbook of Cellulosic Ethanol written by Ananda S. Amarasekara and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-12-17 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Comprehensive coverage on the growing science and technologyof producing ethanol from the world's abundant cellulosicbiomass The inevitable decline in petroleum reserves and its impact ongasoline prices, combined with climate change concerns, havecontributed to current interest in renewable fuels. Bioethanol isthe most successful renewable transport fuel—with corn andsugarcane ethanol currently in wide use as blend-in fuels in theUnited States, Brazil, and a few other countries. However, thereare a number of major drawbacks in these first-generation biofuels,such as their effect on food prices, net energy balance, and poorgreenhouse gas mitigation. Alternatively, cellulosic ethanol can beproduced from abundant lignocellulosic biomass forms such asagricultural or municipal wastes, forest residues, fast growingtrees, or grasses grown in marginal lands, and should be produciblein substantial amounts to meet growing global energy demand. The Handbook of Cellulosic Ethanol covers all aspects ofthis new and vital alternative fuel source, providing readers withthe background, scientific theory, and recent research progress inproducing cellulosic ethanol via different biochemical routes, aswell as future directions. The seventeen chapters includeinformation on: Advantages of cellulosic ethanol over first-generation ethanolas a transportation fuel Various biomass feedstocks that can be used to make cellulosicethanol Details of the aqueous phase or cellulolysis route,pretreatment, enzyme or acid saccharification, fermentation,simultaneous saccharification fermentation, consolidatedbioprocessing, genetically modified microorganisms, and yeasts Details of the syngas fermentation or thermochemical route,gasifiers, syngas cleaning, microorganisms for syngas fermentation,and chemical catalysts for syngas-to-ethanol conversion Distillation and dehydration to fuel-grade ethanol Techno-economical aspects and the future of cellulosicethanol Readership Chemical engineers, chemists, and technicians working onrenewable energy and fuels in industry, research institutions, anduniversities. The Handbook can also be used by studentsinterested in biofuels and renewable energy issues.