This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. The information contained in this compendium volume sets the stage for the future's large-scale production of biofuels. Biomass is an abundant carbon-neutral renewable feedstock for producing fuel. First-generation biofuels gained attention for their problems, but the authors of this book demonstrate that they are well on their way to creating practical and sustainable second-generation biofuels. The book begins with an introduction to synthetic biology. Next, it covers pretreatment technologies, advanced microbial technologies, genetic engineering as it relates to biofuel technologies, and nanotechnology and chemical engineering in relation to biofuels. Well-respected in his field, the editor's firsthand experience gives him the perspective to create a thorough review of the relevant literature. Each chapter is written by experts in biotechnologies, offering graduate and post-doctorate students, as well as other scientific researchers, a wide-angle look at biofuel technologies. At the same time, this volume points to promising directions for new research.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. Sustainability demands that we meet the needs of our present world without compromising the needs of future generations. As a result, sources and methodologies for renewable energy are being urgently investigated. Biomassoffers one of the most readily implemented, low-cost alternatives to fossil fuels. First-generation biofuels proved to have limited sustainability, but today's advanced biofuels are developing more efficient processes. This book contains the latest research on catalytic processing, a promising technology for making biofuel production truly sustainable. Included here are: Several overview chapters, describing analytic methods for assessing catalytic sustainability. Chapters that investigate several reaction routes for sustainable catalytic conversion. A final chapter on methodologies for optimizing catalytic reactions. Written for readers with university-level understanding of chemistry, biology, and engineering, this compendium volume offers evidence that catalytic processing is a flexible and sustainable methodology for the conversion ofbiomass platforms. The editor, one of the leading figures in this area of study, has collected research that covers key issues of interest to fuel and energy technologists and engineers. The comprehensive coverage of current research will also offer scientists a solid foundation for future research in this critical field of investigation.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. The world needs renewable and clean forms of energy. Biofuels offer an alternative to fossil fuels, but first-generation biofuels had many challenges to be overcome. One strategy that second-generation biofuels are employing is microbial technology. This compendium volume gathers together recent investigations within this vital field of research. It offers: An overview of the topic Investigations into the varieties of microorganisms useful for this technology Pretreatment methodologies Genetic engineering research that will further this technology Internationally recognized experts contribute chapters on their individual areas of research within this vital field of study. The book offers an authoritative platform from which graduate students and scientists can build future investigations that will create still more advanced biofuels.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. Sustainability demands that we meet the needs of our present world without compromising the needs of future generations. As a result, sources and methodologies for renewable energy are being urgently investigated. Biomassoffers one of the most readily implemented, low-cost alternatives to fossil fuels. First-generation biofuels proved to have limited sustainability, but today's advanced biofuels are developing more efficient processes. This book contains the latest research on catalytic processing, a promising technology for making biofuel production truly sustainable. Included here are: Several overview chapters, describing analytic methods for assessing catalytic sustainability. Chapters that investigate several reaction routes for sustainable catalytic conversion. A final chapter on methodologies for optimizing catalytic reactions. Written for readers with university-level understanding of chemistry, biology, and engineering, this compendium volume offers evidence that catalytic processing is a flexible and sustainable methodology for the conversion ofbiomass platforms. The editor, one of the leading figures in this area of study, has collected research that covers key issues of interest to fuel and energy technologists and engineers. The comprehensive coverage of current research will also offer scientists a solid foundation for future research in this critical field of investigation.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. The world needs renewable and clean forms of energy. Biofuels offer an alternative to fossil fuels, but first-generation biofuels had many challenges to be overcome. One strategy that second-generation biofuels are employing is microbial technology. This compendium volume gathers together recent investigations within this vital field of research. It offers: An overview of the topic Investigations into the varieties of microorganisms useful for this technology Pretreatment methodologies Genetic engineering research that will further this technology Internationally recognized experts contribute chapters on their individual areas of research within this vital field of study. The book offers an authoritative platform from which graduate students and scientists can build future investigations that will create still more advanced biofuels.

This century will definitively witness the replacement of current fossil fuels (i.e., oil, natural gas, and coal) with renewable energy sources. Currently, fossil fuels account for almost 80 % of the total energy consumed worldwide and, consequently, there is still a long way to walk before this replacement comes true. Renewable energy-based technologies are being improved fast and they are, little by little, reducing the development level gap with the well-known and optimized fossil technologies. This book offers a compendium of works describing these efforts on some of the most representative renewable technologies. The first five chapters are dedicated to biomass, the only renewable source of organic carbon available on Earth and thus, the only sustainable source for fuels and chemicals. Hydrogen is considered by many as the energy vector of the future. While the hydrogen technologies are in their infancy (as stressed in Chapter 6), there has been a tremendous progress in the last years on renewable hydrogen production and storage. Chapter 7 reviews the current state of one of the most interesting technologies for hydrogen production to date: photocatalytic water splitting. Photovoltaic technologies (Chapters 8 and 9), able to directly convert sunlight into electricity, are extremely important and have reached a high level of development. The discontinuous nature of renewable energies obligates to develop efficient storage systems (Chapters 10-12) such that the energy can be used when most required. Finally, Chapters 13 and 14 summarizes the current state of the electricity generating and tidal power technologies.

The chemical industry is central to the world economy as it moves billions of dollars a year while employing millions of people worldwide. Some of the most relevant technologies of our society involve the production of a chemical from a determined raw material. Some of the chemical technologies, however, are complicated while involving the utilization of harmful solvents or the disposal of hazardous products to the environment. The field of green or sustainable chemistry is receiving a significant interest nowadays. Green chemistry is focused on the designing of cleaner and simpler chemical processes such that they can be carried out with minimum utilization of hazardous substances. This book offers a compendium of sustainable chemical technologies covering some of the most relevant processes of modern chemistry. Thus, sustainable synthesis methods such as microwave-, infrared- or ultrasound-aided processes, and magnetically separable substances (allowing fast and easy separation of the catalysts from the reaction mixture) are covered in this book. Utilization of renewable raw products (e.g., chitosan, biomass-derived glycerol, and green solvents) is also covered along with some chapters describing the main principles and metrics that any sustainable process should follow.

Catalysis is the science that allows facilitating the chemical processes by employing a substance (catalyst) that actively participates in the reaction mechanism while not being consumed during the process. The practical totality of the most relevant chemical processes (by volume of product) up to date involves the utilization of catalysts as a crucial part of the technology. Thus, some of the most important bulk chemicals (nitric, sulfuric, and terephtalic acids) are produced via catalytic oxidation while others such as ammonia involves catalytic hydrogenation processes. Bulk polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene and many high added-value fine chemicals produced at lower scale are generated with the key participation of a catalyst. This book intends to provide an overview of some of the most relevant industrial catalytic technologies available today. Thus, important heterogeneous catalytic processes such as Fischer-Tropsch, three-way conversion of gaseous pollutants, and preferential oxidation of CO in H2 streams have dedicated chapters in this compendium. Deactivation of catalysts, a central issue in any catalytic technology, is adequately tackled by excellent reviews from relevant authors. The upgrading of petroleum to fuels and chemicals is also covered by including chapters on hydrocracking of heavy oils and Fischer-Tropsch-derived streams. Finally, enzymes, which can be considered as natural catalysts, are described in a review chapter as essential components involved in the production of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and even bulk chemicals.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. The information contained in this compendium volume sets the stage for the future's large-scale production of biofuels. Biomass is an abundant carbon-neutral renewable feedstock for producing fuel. First-generation biofuels gained attention for their problems, but the authors of this book demonstrate that they are well on their way to creating practical and sustainable second-generation biofuels. The book begins with an introduction to synthetic biology. Next, it covers pretreatment technologies, advanced microbial technologies, genetic engineering as it relates to biofuel technologies, and nanotechnology and chemical engineering in relation to biofuels. Well-respected in his field, the editor's firsthand experience gives him the perspective to create a thorough review of the relevant literature. Each chapter is written by experts in biotechnologies, offering graduate and post-doctorate students, as well as other scientific researchers, a wide-angle look at biofuel technologies. At the same time, this volume points to promising directions for new research.