Birgit Kamm Libri

The book describes how plant biomass can be used as renewable feedstock for producing and further processing various products. Particular attention is given to microbial processes both for the digestion of biomass and the synthesis of platform chemicals, biofuels and secondary products. Topics covered new metabolic pathways of microbes living on green plants and in silage; using lignocellulosic hydrolysates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates; fungi such as Penicillium as host for the production of heterologous proteins and enzymes; bioconversion of sugar hydrolysates into lipids; production of succinic acid, lactones, lactic acid and organic lactates using different bacteria species; cellulose hydrolyzing bacteria in the production of biogas from plant biomass; and isoprenoid compounds in engineered microbes.

This is the first book dedicated to biorefineries and biobased industrial technologies, and, as such, is directed towards the technological principles of biorefineries, green processes, plants, concepts, current and forthcoming biobased product lines, as well as the economic aspects. Since the hot topics of green chemistry and green processes are of a multidisciplinary interest, this book will benefit the whole spectrum of the process industry, including chemical engineers, process engineers, apparatus construction engineers, chemical industry, chemists in industry, and biotechnologists.The editors and authors are all internationally recognized experts from industry and academia, including Dr. Patrick Gruber, the former Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Cargill Dow, a winner of the U.S. Presidential Green Chemistry Award and holder of more than 40 patents.