Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes / Edition 1

by Jay Cheng

Overview

Continuously increased consumption of fossil fuels, decreased availability of easily accessible fossil fuels, significant contributions to climate change and wildly fluctuating fuels prices have combine to challenge the reliability and sustainability of our current energy supply. A possible solution to this energy challenge, biomass energy production, heavily dependent on sugarcane and corn production, is vulnerable to the fluctuation of the feedstock price. New technologies need to be developed to convert abundant biomass such as lignocellulosic materials into energy products in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.

An introduction to fundamental principles and practical applications, Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes explains the theories of biological processes, biomass materials and logistics, and conversion technologies for bioenergy products such as biogas, ethanol, butanol, biodiesel, and synthetic gases. The book discusses anaerobic digestion of waste materials for biogas and hydrogen production, bioethanol and biobutanol production from starch and cellulose, and biodiesel production from plant oils. It addresses thermal processes, including gasification and pyrolysis of agricultural residues and woody biomass. The text also covers pretreatment technologies, enzymatic reactions, fermentation, and microbiological metabolisms and pathways. It explores the engineering principles of biomass gasification and pyrolysis and potential end-products.

Editor Jay Cheng has assembled contributors from multiple engineering disciplines, reflecting the breadth and depth of the field. These experts discuss the fundamental principles of the processes for bioenergy production, supplying the background needed to understand and develop biofuel technologies. They provide the foundation for future work and development on what can be a clean, green, renewable, and sustainable energy source for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420095173
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/01/2009
Pages:	518
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jay J. Cheng (Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, Environmental Engineering) is a Professor of Biological and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He works in the area of environmental engineering & bioenergy processes and his primary focus is on research and teaching. His research and grants investigate bioenergy processes and waste treatments, and his program centers on international research collaborations demonstrated by over 50 key-note speeches and seminars in the US, China, Europe, and South America. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Environmental Engineering and is the present associate editor of the Journal of (Chinese) Biology. Dr. Cheng has served on more than 15 national and international professional committees and is well recognized for his research work. In addition to his research program Cheng teaches a course in "Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes" and he has mentored 16 graduate students. Cheng is an associate faculty member of NCSU Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and an adjunct faculty member of the Peking University - Graduate School of Environment and Energy in Shenzhen, China. Cheng is a member of the society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers (ASABE), International Water Association (IWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers (AOC), and Chinese Association for Science and Technology in USA (CAST-USA).

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Editor ix

Contributors xi

1 Introduction Jay J. Cheng 1

2 Biomass Chemistry Deepak R. Keshwani 7

3 Biomass Resources Ziyu Wang Deepak R. Keshwani 41

4 Biomass Logistics Matthew W. Veal 71

5 Kinetics and Microbiology of Biological Processes Jay J. Cheng 135

6 Anaerobic Digestion for Biogas Production Jay J. Cheng 151

7 Biological Process for Ethanol Production Jay J. Cheng 209

8 Biological Process for Butanol Production Jian-Hang Zhu Fangxiao Yang 271

9 Chemical Conversion Process for Biodiesel Production Dong-Zhi Wei Fangxiao Yang Erzheng Su 337

10 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Power and Fuels Hasan Jameel Deepak R. Keshwani Seth F. Carter Trevor H. Treasure 437

Index 491

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This volume is a major achievement for its coverage of the production and implementation of biologically based resources, and related principles and technologies. Cheng is an expert in bioprocessing and environmental engineering … Summing Up: Recommended."
—CHOICE, June 2010

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is a major achievement for its coverage of the production and implementation of biologically based resources, and related principles and technologies. Cheng is an expert in bioprocessing and environmental engineering … Summing Up: Recommended."
—CHOICE, June 2010

From the Publisher