Microbiology Of Green Fuels

The replacement of fossil-derived compounds by bio-based fuels and chemicals is crucial for the implementation of a sustainable bioeconomy. In this context, microorganisms are key players for biofuels’ production from renewable sources. Biotechnological biofuel production processes require conversion microorganisms capable of both efficiently assimilating renewable low-cost carbon sources and diverting their metabolisms towards the specific biofuel. Exploring the wide diversity of microorganisms available on Earth will surely aid to make the production of green fuels a reality. This book gives a wide overview of different microbial-based processes for green fuels production. The book also includes techno-economic analysis and highlights strategic, commercial and environmental interests in promoting green fuels. All these facts make this book very valuable not only for the scientific community but also for biofuel companies and policy makers.

Concerns over dwindling fossil fuel reserves and impending climate changes have focused attention worldwide on the need to discover alternative, sustainable energy sources and fuels. Biofuels, already produced on a massive industrial scale, are seen as one answer to these problems. However, very real concerns over the effects of biofuel production on food supplies, with some of ht recent increases in worldwide food costs attributable to biofuel production, have lead to the realization that new, non-food substrates for biofuel production must be bought online. This book is an authoritative, comprehensive, up-to-date review of the various options under development for the production of advanced biofuels as alternative energy sources. A general overview and introductory chapters for each section place the field in the context as well as provide essential basic notions for the more general reader. Accomplished, internationally recognized experts carrying out research on individual focus areas contribute specific technical chapters detailing present progress and future prospects.

This book focuses on the different kinds of biofuels and biofuel resources. Biofuels represent a major type of renewable energy. As part of a larger bio-economy, they are closely linked to agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. Biofuels have the potential to improve regional energy access, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to climate protection. Further, this alternative form of energy could revitalize the forestry and agricultural sector and promote the increased use of renewable resources as raw materials in a range of industrial processes. Efforts are continuously being made to develop economically competitive biofuels, and microbes play important roles in the production of biofuels from various bioresources. This book elaborates on recent advances in existing microbial technologies and on sustainable approaches to improving biofuel production processes. Additionally, it examines trends in, and the limitations of, existing processes and technologies. The book offers a comprehensive overview of microbial bioresources, microbial technologies, advances in bioconversion and biorefineries, as well as microbial and metabolic engineering for efficient biofuel production. Readers will also learn about the environmental impacts and the influence of climate change on the sustainability of biofuel production. This book is intended for researchers and students whose work involves biorefinery technologies, microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental biology and related fields.

Human actions across the past few centuries have led to a depletion of the world's natural energy sources, as well as large scale environmental degradation. In the context of these current global issues, this book covers the latest research on the application and use of microbes in topical areas such as bioremediation and biofuels. With chapters covering environmental clean-up, microbial fuel cells and biohydrogen, it provides a comprehensive discussion of the latest developments in the field of microbe utilization.

The book will highlight major trends and developments in the field of microbial fuels, with contributions from a number of highly experienced researchers. It will serve as a comprehensive reference for industrial stakeholders, scientists, researchers and graduate students interested in microbial fuels. The aims of this work are to present the technologies and perspectives taking into account different socio-economical contexts. A specific chapter will focus on the general perspectives of microbial fuels for low-income and emerging countries.

Biofuels are one of the most sustainable options when it comes to renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Biotechnological processes, such as microbial fermentation, are used to produce energy from waste biomass by converting organic substrates into biofuels. This book discusses practices to improve and enrich various microbial communities in order to enhance sustainable and economical biofuel production. It also evaluates various strategies to develop potential microorganisms and microbial consortia to produce highly efficient biofuels at a relatively low cost.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous and indispensable for the existence of mankind. They show diversity in size, shape, metabolism and the range of positive functions they perform for sustaining the life on this planet. Bacteria have been exploited by the mankind since times immemorial for the production of various foods and enzymes. They reveal several types of metabolic reactions which are absent in eukaryotic organisms. The present book highlights the potential of microorganisms in solving the global energy crisis. Presently, the world is facing energy crisis due to depleting fossil fuels which are expected to get exhausted during the next 50 yeaOne of the alternative energy resources for the new millennium is expected to be the renewable energy including biomass from which a variety of biofuels can be obtained by the exploitation of microbes. This volume has been organized in 13 chapters which have been prepared to provide the readers with both an in-depth study and a broad perspective of microorganisms for sustainability of mankind. Further, it makes the readers familiar with the diversity in energy generating pathways among different groups of microorganisms and different types of biomass energy resources available on this planet and the various possibilities which can be exploited for converting these in to alternate energy sources with the help of microbes. A great effort has been made to provide the readers a comprehensive knowledge about different alternative fuels and value added products from microbes for the 21st century. It is hoped that this volume will prove useful to the students and professionals who are pursuing their career in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Environmental sciences and Energy studies related to the alternate biofuels to solve the global energy crisis.

'Direct Microbial Conversion of Biomass to Advanced Biofuels' is a stylized text that is rich in both the basic and applied sciences. It provides a higher level summary of the most important aspects of the topic, addressing critical problems solved by deep science. Expert users will find new, critical methods that can be applied to their work, detailed experimental plans, important outcomes given for illustrative problems, and conclusions drawn for specific studies that address broad based issues. A broad range of readers will find this to be a comprehensive, informational text on the subject matter, including experimentalists and even CEOs deciding on new business directions. Describes an important new field in biotechnology, the consolidated conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to advanced fuels Up-to-date views of promising technologies used in the production of advanced biofuels Presents the newest ideas, well-designed experiments, and outcomes Provides outstanding illustrations from NREL and contributing researchers Contains contributions from leaders in the field that provide numerous examples and insights into the most important aspects of the topic