Second and Third Generation of Feedstocks: The Evolution of Biofuels

Second and Third Generation of Feedstocks: The Evolution of Biofuels presents a critical analysis of both the applications and potential of bioenergy production from second and third generation feedstocks. The book illustrates different aspects of the processes used for the production of biofuels, dealing specifically with second and third generation feedstocks from biomass and algae. The pretreatment of feedstocks and optimization of various forms of bioenergy are considered, along with the economic aspects of the various processes. In the last few years, industrial research efforts have focused on low cost, large-scale processing for lignocellulosic feedstocks originating from agricultural residues and municipal wastes for bioenergy production. This book shares an insight into the recent developments taking place in this industry, exploring transformation processes as well as biomass and algae conversions.

• Reviews existing lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks and their sources
• Includes processes for the conversion of various feedstocks to biofuels
• Discusses current research findings on second and third generation feedstocks
• Describes processes involved in the transformation of algal biomass into biofuels

Angelo Basile, a Chemical Engineer, is a senior Researcher at the ITM-CNR where is responsible of the research related to both the ultra-pure hydrogen production and CO2 capture using Pd-based Membrane Reactors. Basile is also Editor associate of the Int. J. Hydrogen Energy and Editor-in-chief of the Int. J. Membrane Science & Technol. and Editor-in-chief of Membrane Processes (Applications), a section of the international journal Membranes: Basile also prepared 42 special issues on membrane science and technology for many international journals (IJHE, Chem Eng. J., Cat. Today, etc.). He participated to and was/is responsible of many national and international projects on membrane reactors and membrane science. Basile served as Director of the ITM-CNR during the period Dec. 2008 – May 2009. In the last years, he was tutor of 30 Thesis for master and Ph.D. students at the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Calabria (Italy). From 2014, Basile is Full Professor of Chemical Engineering Processes.

Francesco Dalena is a European Ph.D. (Doctor Europaeus) at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Calabria (Rende, Italy). He is an expert in "Chemistry of advanced materials" and his research activity focuses on the bioenergy sector. He is co-editor of various books, such as Bioenergy: Systems for the Future, Woodhead Publishing, and Methanol: Science and Engineering, and Ethanol: Science and Engineering, both published by Elsevier.