With the depletion of oil resources as well as the negative environmental impact of fossil fuels, there is much interest in alternative energy sources. Focusing on some of the most important alternate energy sources for the foreseeable future, the Handbook of Plant-Based Biofuels provides state-of-the-art information on the status of the production of biofuels, in particular, bioethanol and biodiesel.

Introduction to Biofuels

After profiling plant-based biofuels, the book gives an overview of the production of biofuels from biomass materials by thermochemical and biochemical methods. It examines the thermochemical conversion of biomass to liquids and gaseous fuels.

Production of Bioethanol

The handbook then analyzes current biomass-to-ethanol programs, followed by a discussion on ethanol fermentation from molasses and process practices applied for the improvement of ethanol production by ethanologenic microorganisms. It also explains the hydrolysis and fermentation of ethanol from starchy and lignocellulosic biomasses.

Production of Biodiesel

In the final chapters, the contributors discuss current perspectives and the future of biodiesel production. They explore biodiesel production substrates, the lipase-catalyzed preparation of biodiesel, and biodiesel production with supercritical fluid technologies.