This volume focuses on technological advances relevant to establishing biofuels as a viable alternative to fossil fuels by overcoming current limitations. The progressive depletion of fossil fuels due to their large-scale utilization and their environmental consequences, notably global warming, increase the need for sustainable and cleaner energy options. Renewable biofuels – like biohydrogen, biomethane, biogas, ethanol and butenol – represent attractive energy sources to meet the growing global demand, thanks to sustainable and cost-efficient production approaches based on cellulosic biomass. Currently, the commercialization of these technologies is hindered by technical and economic limitations, such as biomass complexity and pre-treatment, enzyme hydrolysis, production efficiency as well as storage and cost. As such, this book presents economically viable and sustainable approaches to improve existing biofuel technologies and appeals to anyone with an interest in biofuels as renewable energy options and their practical implementation.
Dr. Neha Srivastava is currently a postdoctorate fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, India. She has published 23 research articles in peer-reviewed journals holds 3 patents, and has received 6 Young Scientist Awards. She completed her PhD in the area of bioenergy at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, SHIATS, India in 2016. Her field of expertise includes biofuel production, microbial bioprocessing and enzyme technologies.
Dr. Manish Srivastava is a DST INSPIRE faculty at the Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, India. He has published 39 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, authored several book chapters and filed 1 patent. He worked at the Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Chonbuk National University and the Department of Physics, DIT School of Engineering, Greater Noida after receiving a PhD in Physics from the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India in 2011. His area of interest is synthesis of nanostructured materials and their applications as catalysts for development of electrode materials in energy storage, biosensors and biofuels production.
Dr. P.K. Mishra is currently a professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India. He obtained his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) in 1995, has co-authored over 60 research papers and supervised over 20 doctoral students. He has received several awards and honors for his work, holds 5 patents and is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers India. He has also made a significant contribution towards the development of entrepreneurship ecosystem in the eastern part of the country. He is coordinator of the Technology Business Incubator at the Institute and member Executive committee NISBUD, Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India. His field of expertise includes biofuel production, microbial bioprocessing and enzyme technologies.
Dr. Pramod W. Ramteke is currently dean of Post Graduate Studies and head of the Departments of Biological Sciences and Genetics & Plant Breeding at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Allahabad, India.
He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Academy of Biological Sciences, The Linnean Society of London, Academy of Microbial Sciences India (AMI), The Biotech Research Society of India, Society for Plant Protection Sciences, Mycological Society of India, Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, Association for Biotechnology and Pharmacy, Society of Biological Sciences and Rural Development and The Academy of Environmental Biology. He received several awards and honors for his and has been a visiting scientist to Hacettepe University, Turkey; the Institute of Food Research, UK; the University of Liege, Belgium; Korea Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea; the University of Szeged, Hungary; and the Hydrobiological Institute, Czech Republic. He was a member of 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (1998–99).
In addition to holding 3 patents, publishing 3 books and over 150 research papers, he has implemented 7 major projects from DBT, DST, CSIR, UPCAR and CST, UP and supervised 21 PhDs and more than 40 PG Thesis/projects. His field of expertise includes biofuel production, plant biology, and microbial technology.
Dr. S. N. Upadhyay is an Emeritus Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India. He has made significant contributions to the institute as a professor for 50 years and also served as the institute’s Director from 2005 to 2010. He obtained his PhD (Chemical Engineering) from Banaras Hindu University in 1969, has co-authored over 180 research papers and supervised more than 30 doctoral students. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences India, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Biotechnology Research Society, India and Institutions of Engineers India. He has received several national/international awards and honors. He has made significant contributions to the field of energy/engineering including bioenergy. His field of expertise includes biofuel production, microbial fuel cell, membrane technology, and wastewater treatment.
Dr. Vijai Kumar Gupta is a scientist at the ERA Chair of Green Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia. He is a member of International Sub-commission on Trichoderma and Hypocrea, Austria; International Society for Fungal Conservation, UK; and secretary of the European Mycological Association. Dr. Gupta is a fellow of The Linnaean Society, London, UK; the Indian Mycological Association; and the Mycological Society of India. He has received several awards, including Indian Young Scientist Award for his advanced research achievements in the field of fungal biology and biotechnology. He is the editor of numerous scientific journals and has edited several books for leading international publishers. His field of expertise includes microbial biotechnology, green technologies, applied mycology, biofuels & bioenergy research.
