Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals

In Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, based on the 19th Symposium, held in Colorado Springs, CO, May 4-8, 1997, leading researchers from academia, industry, and government present their new applications and cutting-edge research advances in the production of fuels and chemicals through biotechnology. The focus of the proceeding was on the utilization of renewable resources, particularly cellulosic biomass.

Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals covers a wide range of technical topics. Among the high points are innovative pretreatment processes that can turn lignocellulosic materials into simple sugars, the development of exciting new biocatalysts and microbes, new reactor designs, and inventive conversion processes. Also discussed are a number of microbes and plants that have been genetically modified to perform novel bioconversions to produce enzymes and key chemical intermediates. The meeting clearly demonstrated that biotechnology and bioprocessing can make it possible to convert cellulosic biomass into fuels and chemicals in a commercially attractive fashion.