Table of Contents
1 The origins of biotechnology 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Introduction, historical 1
1.3 Fermentation 2
1.4 Leavening 3
1.5 Cheese making 4
1.6 Modern biotechnology and recombinant DNA 5
References 6
2 Biotechnological processes today 9
2.1 Introduction 9
2.2 Biotechnology companies 9
2.3 Biotechnology sectors 10
2.3.1 Fuel and energy 13
2.3.2 Food and food supplements 13
2.3.3 Drugs and other pharmaceuticals 14
2.3.4 Industrial products 14
References 15
3 Bioethanol 17
3.1 Introduction 17
3.2 Bioethanol from starch 18
3.3 Cellulosic bioethanol 18
3.4 Future challenges 20
References 22
4 Biodiesel 23
4.1 Introduction 23
4.2 Petrodiesel production 23
4.3 Biodiesel 24
4.3.1 Animal fat sources 26
4.3.2 Soybean feedstock 26
4.3.3 Algae 27
4.4 Challenges for the future 27
References 28
5 Biobutanol 31
5.1 Introduction 31
5.2 Sources 31
5.3 Production 32
5.4 Advantages to biobutanol 34
References 34
6 Biofuels from animal and vegetable waste 37
6.1 Introduction 37
6.2 Conversion of waste to biogas 37
6.3 Use of animal renderings 39
6.4 Use of vegetable oils 39
6.5 Comparisons of biofuels to traditional sources 40
References 41
7 Yeasts 43
7.1 Introduction, traditional yeasts 43
7.1.1 Bread yeasts 43
7.1.2 Beer and wine yeasts 44
7.2 Recent yeast modifications 46
References 46
8 Vitamins 49
8.1 Introduction 49
8.2 Vitamin B2, riboflavin 50
8.3 Vitamin B3, niacin 50
8.4 Vitamin B6 51
8.5 Vitamin B12 52
8.6 Vitamin C 55
References 57
9 Pharma/Drugs 59
9.1 Introduction 59
9.2 Insulin 59
9.3 Taxol (paclitaxel) 60
9.4 Interferons 62
9.5 Other common drugs 63
References 64
10 Insect sources 67
10.1 Introduction 67
10.2 Termite gut bacteria and cellulosic ethanol 67
10.3 Cochineal 68
10.4 Silk 68
10.4.1 Silk production 69
10.4.2 Uses of silk 70
10.4.3 Future possibilities for silk production 70
10.5 Beeswax 70
10.5.1 Introduction and structural chemistry 70
10.5.2 Uses of beeswax 71
References 72
11 Ftavors 73
11.1 Introduction 73
11.2 Cinnamic aldehyde 73
11.3 Limonene 76
11.4 Vanillin 77
11.5 Reuse and recycling 77
References 78
12 Plastics 79
12.1 Introduction 79
12.2 Polytactic acid 83
12.3 Production of polyacrylonitrile 84
12.4 Polyhydroxyalkanoates 85
12.5 Polyols 85
12.6 Recycling and reuse possibilities 86
References 86
13 Wood 89
13.1 Introduction 89
13.2 Wood production 89
13.2.1 Means of genetic engineering 89
13.2.2 Cuttings 90
13.2.3 Gene insertion 90
13.2.4 Control of engineered trees 90
13.3 Pulp and paper production 91
13.4 Recycling and reuse 92
References 94
14 Leather 95
14.1 Introduction 95
14.2 Traditional leather tanning operations 96
14.3 Biotechnological developments 97
14.4 Recycling 98
References 98
15 Types of rubber 101
15.1 Introduction 101
15.2 Natural rubber 102
15.3 Dandelion rubber 102
15.4 Synthetic rubber 103
15.5 Rubber recycling 104
References 104
16 Metals 107
16.1 Introduction 107
16.2 Traditional metal refining 107
16.2.1 Iron refining 108
16.2.2 Copper and aluminum refining 109
16.2.3 Scope of metals production 109
16.3 Biotechnological applications, biohydrometallurgy 110
16.3.1 Bioleaching 111
16.3.2 Phytoremediation 113
References 114
17 Textiles and detergents 117
17.1 Introduction 117
17.2 Traditional production 117
17.2.1 Cotton 117
17.2.2 Wool 118
17.3 Synthetic fibers 118
17.4 Biotechnology and enzymes in textile production and detergents 119
17.4.1 Amylases 120
17.4.2 Cellulase 120
17.4.3 Lipase 120
17.4.4 Protease 121
17.5 Polymers 122
References 122
18 Cosmetic ingredients 125
18.1 Introduction 125
18.2 Petroleum jelly 125
18.3 Mineral oil 127
18.4 Personal care mixtures 128
18.4.1 Propylene glycol and 1, 3-propanediol 128
18.4.2 Butylene glycol 129
18.5 Recycling and reuse 129
References 130
19 Biotechnology in recycling 131
19.1 Introduction 131
19.2 Microbes in recycling 132
19.3 Recycling of plastics and biobased plastic materials 133
19.3.1 Plastics recycling 133
19.3.2 Biosourced plastics recycling 134
References 135
20 Biotechnology companies 137
21 Index 139
