Introduction to Renewable Biomaterials – First Principles and Concepts

This pedagogical textbook covers the entire evolutionary spectrum of biomass, from its genetic modification and harvesting, to conversion technologies, life cycle analysis, and its value to the current global economy. Combining the underpinning science with technology applications and sustainability considerations, this interdisciplinary textbook provides advanced students with the broad focus required for understanding this new discipline. Each chapter includes a glossary of terms, 2-3 problem sets, and feature boxes to highlight novel discoveries and instruments. At the end of the chapters there are questions for further consideration and suggestions for further reading. This textbook has been developed from a successful USDA funded course run by a partnership of three US universities, the internationally recognized BioSUCCEED education and research platform (BioProducts Sustainability, a University Cooperative Center for Excellence in Education.)

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors Preface Chapter 1: Fundamental Biochemical and Biotechnological Principles of Biomass Growth & Use Dr. Manfred Kircher 1.1 Comparison of fossil - versus bio-based raw materials 1.2 The nature of bio-based raw materials 1.3 General considerations surrounding bio-based raw materials 1.4 Research advances made recently 1.5 Prominent scientists working in this arena 1.6 SUMMARY 1.7 STUDY PROBLEMS References Chapter 2: Fundamental Science and Applications for Biomaterials Ali Ayoub, Lucian Lucia 1. Philosophical Statement 2. Introduction 3. What are the biopolymers that encompass the structure and function of lignocellulosics 4. The chemical reactivity s of the cellulose, heteropolysaccharides, and lignin 5. Composite as a unique application for sustainable materials 6. Question for further consideration References Chapter 3: Conversion technologies Maurycy Daroch 1. Energy scenario at global level 2. Biomass 3. Biomass conversion methods 4. Metrics to assist the transition towards sustainable production of bioenergy and biomaterials 5. Summary Key references References Chapter 4: Characterization Methods and Techniques Noppadon Sathitsuksano, Scott Renneckar Philosophy Statement Glossary 1. Understanding characteristics of biomass 2. Taking precautions prior to setting up experiments for biomass analysis 3. Classifying biomass sizes for proper analysis 4. Moisture content of biomass and importance of drying samples prior to analysis 5. When the carbon is burned 6. Structural Cell Wall Analysis, what to look for 7. Hydrolyzing biomass and determining its composition 8. Determining Cell Wall Structures through Spectroscopy and Scattering 9. Examining the Size of the Biopolymers: Molecular Weight Analysis 10. Intricacies of Understanding Lignin Structure 11. Questions for further consideration References Chapter 5: Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment and Decision Making Applied to Forest Biomaterials Jesse Daystar, Richard Venditti 1. Introduction 2. LCA components overview 3. Life Cycle Assessment Steps 4. LCA Tools for Forest Biomaterials References Chapter 6: First Principles of Pretreatment and Cracking Biomass to Fundamental Building Blocks Amir Daraei Garmakhany and Somayeh Sheykhnazari 1. Introduction 2. What difference should be considered between wood and agricultural biomass? 3. Define pretreatment 4. Steps of production of cellulosic ethanol 5. What are the key considerations for making a successful pretreatment technology? 6. What are the general methods used in pretreatment? 7. What is currently being done and what are the advances? 8. Summary References Chapter 7: Green Route to Prepare Renewable Polyesters From Monomers: Enzymatic polymerization Toufik Naolou 1. Philosophic statement 2. Introduction 3. Lipase-catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerizations of cyclic monomeric esters (lactones and lactides) 4. Lipase-catalyzed polycondensation 5. Conclusions and remarks 6. Questions for further consideration: References Chapter 8: Oil-Based and Bio-derived Thermoplastic Polymer Blends and Composites Alessia Quitadamo, Valerie Massardier and Marco Valente 1. Introduction 2. Oil-based and bio-derived thermoplastic polymer blends 2.1. Comparison between fuel-based and bio-derived thermoplastic polymers 2.2. Thermoplastics blends 3. Thermoplastic composites with natural fillers 3.1. Wood-Plastic Composites (WPCs) 3.2. Waste paper as filler in thermoplastic composites 4. Conclusion 5. Questions for further considerations

About the Author :
About the Editors Ali S. Ayoub, PhD is an internationally recognized expert in the biopolymer science and engineering field and has successfully developed groundbreaking inventions in areas relevant to polymeric materials and the biorefinery concept. He is a senior scientist in the chemical industry, as well as an adjunct professor and associate graduate faculty member at North Carolina State University. He is associated with the United States Department of Interior and symposiums related to natural polymers within the American Chemical Society. Lucian A. Lucia, PhD is an Associate Professor in Forest Biomaterials and Chemistry, North Carolina State University and an honorary Professor of Green Chemistry at Qilu University of Technology (China). He was the Principle Investigator for the acclaimed BioSUCCEED educational/research framework (BioProducts Sustainability, a University Cooperative Center for Excellence in Education). He has been elected Fellow to a number of prestigious organizations and is co-Founder and co-Editor of the international journal BioResources.