During the last six years one of the most productive of the
International Energy Agency (IEA) networks on renewable energy, has been
the network entitled "Biotechnology for the conversion of
Lignocellulosics". One of the reasons for the success of the network has
been the interaction of molecular biologists, microbiologists, chemists
and engineers all working together on the technical and economic aspects
of biomass conversion of ethanol. The authors of the various chapters in
this book are part of this network and were selected for their
familiarity with either a specific step of a bioconversion process or
for their ability to assess the technical and economic aspects of the
overall process. The chapters describe the technical advances that have
been made in the various process steps, and also indicate the probable
configuration of a biomass to ethanol plant. This book will interest
researchers, engineers and industrialists.