This book highlights recent progress on the advancements toward optimization of major biorefinery processes, including biomass pretreatment and fractionation, saccharification of sugars, and conversion of sugars and lignin into fuels and chemical precursors. The continual improvement of these processes and their integration in the format of a modern biorefinery is paving the way for a sustainable bio-economy that will displace large portions of petroleum-derived fuels and chemicals with renewable substitutes. Written by leading researchers from academia and well-renowned industry professionals, this book provides a comprehensive review of various aspects related to the recent developments in biomass conversion and biorefinery, aimed at successfully implementing the circular economy principles in various industries.

This book is designed with the objective of studying microalgae and its application in the widest sense. Microalgae offer various inherent advantages as they are capable of accumulating lipids (20–70%), and able to aid with the production of pigments, carbohydrates, and proteins. The book comprehensively covers microalgae isolation techniques, their cultivation, and wastewater treatment by microalgae as well as the impact on biomass, lipid extraction, biofuel, and utilization of residual biomass focusing on biorefinery approach.

This book provides a unique perspective on atom economical utilization of biomass resources into value-added productions. Humins are inevitably formed during the process of biomass conversion, which compete with desired products, restrain the activity of catalyst and hinder the recycling of catalyst and separation of products. To further improve the efficiency of biomass conversion toward downstream products, unambiguous elucidation of the chemical structure and formation mechanism of humins are prerequisite. This book primarily presents the chemical structure analysis and formation mechanism of various biomass-derived humins, from simple molecular models to raw biomass resources. The chemical similarities and differences of various biomass-derived humins have been systematically summarized according to advanced analytical interpretation, which offers a comprehensive viewpoint for readers with chemistry, engineering and material backgrounds. Furthermore, the progress that has been achieved on humins valorization and future perspectives are discussed. Given its scope, this book can be treated as an informative resource for undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers and researchers interested in biomass conversion from academia and industry from entry to professional levels.

This book presents the use of biochar as a platform for the development of new intriguing solutions in several cutting-edge fields. The book is a useful reference volume for any reader with a strong scientific and technological background, ranging from scientific advisors in private companies to academic researchers promoting the spread of knowledge about biochar to anyone not already working with it.

This book is a compilation of process, technologies and value added products such as high value biochemicals and biofuels produced from different waste biorefineries. The book is sectioned into four categories providing a comprehensive outlook about zero waste biorefinery and technologies associated with it. The emerging technologies that potentially put back the lignocellulosic waste, municipal solid waste and food waste into intrinsic recycling for production of high value biochemicals and bioenergy, along with associated challenges and opportunities are also included.

This book covers sustainable recycling processes (e.g. physical, biological, chemical, and thermo-chemical) of multiple organic solid wastes, provides methods for material recycle of wastes into value-added products including fuels and commodity chemicals that are able to be directly applied to promote manufacturing processes.

The book comprehensively covers the global scenario of ethanol production from both food and non-food crops and other sources. This book is a useful resource for those involved with biofuels in general and bioethanol in particular, including energy engineers, researchers, consultants, analysts, policy makers, and professionals in the industry supply chain.

This book provides a precise and meticulous overview of the technology of developing energy cane. It highlights how technology has transformed the opinion of growers to cultivate sugarcane from an agronomic to a purpose-grown crop.

This book provides basic knowledge and recent research on biogas production, focusing on the enhancement of biomethane and production routes integrated with microalgae cultivation or agriculture.

This book offers some examples and new ideas for the broader applications of biofuels and the resulting raw materials for energy and chemical products as alternatives to the traditional fossil fuels.