Methane and Methanol Utilizers: 5 (Biotechnology Handbooks, 5) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 030643878X ISBN 13: 9780306438783

Publisher: Springer, 1992

Synopsis

Methane and its oxidation product, methanol, have occupied an important position in the chemical industry for many years: the former as a feedstock, the latter as a primary chemical from which many products are produced. More recently, the role played by methane as a potent "greenhouse" gas has aroused considerable attention from environmentalists and clima­ tologists alike. This role for C compounds has, of course, been quite 1 incidental to the myriad of microorganisms on this planet that have adapted their life-styles to take advantage of these readily available am­ bient sources. Methane, a renewable energy source that will always be with us, is actually a difficult molecule to activate; so any microorganism that can effect this may point the way to catalytic chemists looking for con­ trollable methane oxidation. Methanol, formed as a breakdown product of plant material, is also ubiquitous and has also encouraged the growth of prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike. In an attempt to give a balanced view of how microorganisms have been able to exploit these simple carbon sources, we have asked a number ofleading scientists (modesty forbids our own inclusion here) to contribute chapters on their specialist areas of the subject.

About this title

Synopsis

This collection provides a broad overview of methylotrophic organisms as they relate to useful exploitation by the food, chemical and bioremediation industries. Each article is a rich source of primary references to facilitate the acquisition of more detailed information.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 030643878X
• ISBN 13: 9780306438783
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 300
• Editor: Murrell J. Colin, Dalton Howard