Libros UCLV { BETA }

This volume on Biofuels covers the use and conversion technologies of biomass as a renewable resource to produce bio-energy in a sustainable way, mainly in the form of liquid and gaseous biofuels. These biofuels are a convenient renewable energy carrier for specific purposes, with transportation as an important application sector. Renewable biomass is produced annually, based on photosynthesis, and is available in different forms, depending on climatic conditions and economic situations around the world. Chemical and thermochemical methods, as well as fermentation and biocatalysis technologies, are essential to efficiently convert biomass directly or indirectly into biofuels, with bio-ethanol, biodiesel and biogas as today’s main practical players. In this context, green biotechnology, green chemistry and white biotechnology are to join forces to arrive at sustainable processes and fuels. The use of biofuels is quickly gaining momentum all over the world, and can be expected to have an ever-increasing impact on the energy and agricultural sector in particular. New and efficient ‘bio-cracking’ technologies for biomass are under development, while existing (thermo)chemical, fermentation and enzyme technologies are further optimized. These developments cover basic and applied research, pilot scale experimentation and demonstration plants for second generation biofuels.