Handbook of Cellulosic Ethanol (eBook)

Comprehensive coverage on the growing science and technology
of producing ethanol from the world's abundant cellulosic
biomass

The inevitable decline in petroleum reserves and its impact on
gasoline prices, combined with climate change concerns, have
contributed to current interest in renewable fuels. Bioethanol is
the most successful renewable transport fuel--with corn and
sugarcane ethanol currently in wide use as blend-in fuels in the
United States, Brazil, and a few other countries. However, there
are a number of major drawbacks in these first-generation biofuels,
such as their effect on food prices, net energy balance, and poor
greenhouse gas mitigation. Alternatively, cellulosic ethanol can be
produced from abundant lignocellulosic biomass forms such as
agricultural or municipal wastes, forest residues, fast growing
trees, or grasses grown in marginal lands, and should be producible
in substantial amounts to meet growing global energy demand.

The Handbook of Cellulosic Ethanol covers all aspects of
this new and vital alternative fuel source, providing readers with
the background, scientific theory, and recent research progress in
producing cellulosic ethanol via different biochemical routes, as
well as future directions. The seventeen chapters include
information on:

* Advantages of cellulosic ethanol over first-generation ethanol
as a transportation fuel

* Various biomass feedstocks that can be used to make cellulosic
ethanol

* Details of the aqueous phase or cellulolysis route,
pretreatment, enzyme or acid saccharification, fermentation,
simultaneous saccharification fermentation, consolidated
bioprocessing, 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 cellulosic
ethanol

Readership

Chemical engineers, chemists, and technicians working on
renewable energy and fuels in industry, research institutions, and
universities. The Handbook can also be used by students
interested in biofuels and renewable energy issues.