Biotechnology for Waste Biomass Utilization

This volume focuses on how waste biomass can be transformed into useful biomaterials, food and feed, fuel, and chemicals by using various processes such as chemical, physical, thermal, biological, and biotechnological procedures.

Biomass from biowastes, such as agriculture crop residues, wood processing residues, forest residues, food waste, industrial waste, and municipal solid waste, have emerged as potential substrates for bioenergy production. This volume explores the key features of biotechnology for waste biomass utilization, presenting scientific and technical literature on sustainable waste biomass management as well as for biomass conversion for biofuels, chemicals, and other new commercial products. It discusses a variety of novel biotechnical applications and interventions, including microbial fermentation and anaerobic digestion, biotechnological modes of xylooligosaccharides production, multifaceted utilization of microalgal biomass, vermiculture and vermicomposting, and more.

Key features:

• Provides the most recent information about waste biomass utilization for the production of biofuels and biochemicals
• Shows a wide range of novel technologies in the field of biotechnology towards waste biomass utilization
• Focuses on the utilization of microbial resources for waste biomass conversion into value-added products
• Explores methods for food wastes and crop wastes conversion into biofuels and biochemicals
• Provides the scientific information describing various examples and case studies which aid gaining knowledge to researchers and academicians

With chapters from eminent researchers who have significant global experience in the field of waste biomass management, this volume delivers a wealth of valuable information for researchers involved in bioenergy utilization. It will also be an essential source for academicians, researchers, economists, policymakers, and policy analysts.

Prakash Kumar Sarangi, PhD, is a scientist with specialization in microbiology at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, India. Dr. Sarangi’s research is focused on bioprocess engineering, renewable energy, biochemicals, biomaterials, and sustainable development. His expertise is in bioconversion of biomass into biofuels, biochemicals and nutraceuticals, as well as environmental waste remediation. He has taken leading roles as the principal investigator in several R&D projects on biomass conversion, biofuel from renewable resources, and microbial biodegradation into value-added products. He has more than 12 years of teaching and research experience in biochemical engineering, microbial biotechnology, downstream processing, food microbiology, and molecular biology. He is also serving as an editorial board member for many international journals, including PLOS One, 3 Biotech, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. He is serving as guest editor for the Journal of Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Chemical Engineering and Technology and Biofuels, and Bioproducts and Biorefining. He has published more than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored more than 25 book chapters. He has presented at many national and international conferences. He is associated with many scientific societies as a fellow member.

Latika Bhatia, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Bioinformatics in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, CG, India. She has 21 years of university teaching experience working at the graduate and post-graduate level in microbiology and biotechnology. Her primary research interest is the development of sustainable processes for bioconversion of lignocellulosics into renewable energy and biochemicals. She has hands-on strategic experience in research projects and taking start-ups to full commercial scale operations. She is a recipient of fellowships from the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, and National Academy of Sciences. She has published more than 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and monographs, and books, and she has delivered many conference papers. She has also convened several national-level conferences and workshops and has completed many consultancy and research projects. Dr. Bhatia is reviewer for PLOS and other journals and is a member of national advisory committees of eminent universities. Dr. Bhatia has been a resource person and a keynote speaker and has chaired sessions at more than 10 national and international conferences and in UGC-HRD short-term courses. She has several awards and honors to her credit. She has been invited to deliver a technical talk in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi) as well as at many national and international conferences.