Preface

With an increasing awareness and concerns about our dependency on fossil resources and the depletion of crude oil reserves, this book aims to give an overview to the bio-based economy. Experts from academia and industries worldwide have presented their views on industrial biotechnology, green chemistry and sustainable policy related to the use of renewable raw materials for non-food applications and energy supply. Innovative key research concepts such as waste valorization and its society aspects related to renewable resources need to be transferred to the public, academic and industrial sectors in order to redouble efforts towards a more sustainable society and a bio-based economy.

This book is a concise presentation of a variety of such important aspects in renewable resources and biorefineries. Key features of the book include guidelines for appropriate practices on biorefineries and understanding of waste valorization and bio-processing, with updated latest information on international research and development of novel green strategies and technologies for utilization of renewable resources. The book contains eight high quality chapters, detailing both theoretical and practical information with the aim to provide inspiration for additional research and application to generate energy and value-added products. Bio-based polymers and materials, downstream processing of bioplastic materials, enhanced biomass degradation by polysaccharide monooxygenases, microalgae technology, application of food waste valorization technology in Hong Kong, advanced generation of bioenergy, pre-treatment and transformation of lignocellulosics, and bioactive compounds from biomass are topics extensively covered in this monograph.

As editors of this book, we sincerely hope it can serve as a starting point to highlight the importance of industrial biotechnology and green chemical processes and technologies in biorefineries for the benefit of humankind.

We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all the contributors to this book for their excellent collaboration and timely contributions which brought together a highly comprehensive range of topics. Many thanks to Merlin Fox, Commissioning Editor for the Green Chemistry Series at Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the production team at RSC, particularly Helen Prasad, for her helpful assistance through this project and ensuring everything came together properly.

With very best wishes for successful and enjoyable reading.

Carol Sze Ki Lin

Rafael Luque