Preface
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 20, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 1, 1997 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1997-0666.pr001
THE PRODUCTION OF FUELS AND CHEMICALSfrombiomass faces signi ficant technical and economic challenges at present. Its success depends largely on the development of environmentallyfriendlypretreatment pro cedures, a highly effective multienzyme system for conversion of pretreated biomass to fermentable sugars, and efficient microorganisms to ferment mixed sugar substrates to fuels and chemicals. It is timely to pro vide a book that can guide further research and development in this area. This volume was developed from a symposium presented at the 211th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, titled "Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass", sponsored by the ACS Biotechnology Secre tariat and the Division of Biochemical Technology, in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 24-28, 1996. This book presents a compilation of ten manuscripts from that symposium plus nine solicited manuscripts that represent recent advances in the production of fuels and chemicals from biomass. The chapters in this book are organized in two sections: fuels (ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen) and chemicals (lactic acid, succinic acid, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, polyhydroxybutyrate, and xylitol). A chapter on synthesis-gas fermentation is included in the chemicals section. We hope that this book will serve as a valuable interdisciplinary con tribution to the continually expanding field of the production of fuels and chemicals from biomass.
Acknowledgments
We are fortunate to have contributions from many leading authorities in their respective disciplines. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the contributing authors, the reviewers who pro vided excellent comments to the editors, the ACS Biotechnology Secre tariat and the Division of Biochemical Technology, and the ACS Books Department for making possible the symposium and the publication of this book. We also would like to acknowledge the Oak Flidge National Laboratory, which is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Cor-
ix Saha and Woodward; Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1997.
poration for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DEAC05-96OR22464.
BADAL C. SAHA Fermentation Biochemistry Research Unit National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Agricultural Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 1815 North University Street Peoria, IL 61604
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 20, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 1, 1997 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1997-0666.pr001
JONATHAN WOODWARD Chemical Technology Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, TN 37831 January 24, 1997
x Saha and Woodward; Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1997.
