Biotechnology for Zero Waste – Emerging Waste Management Techniques (Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain (editor) etc.)

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Feasibility and Economics of Biobutanol from

Lignocellulosic and Starchy Residues

Sandesh Kanthakere

Visvesvaraya Technological University, N.M.A.M. Institute of Technology, Belagavi, Department of

Biotechnology Engineering, Nitte 574110, Udupi, Karnataka, India

30.1

Introduction

An alarming rise in population and modernization has relentlessly increased energy

demand worldwide. The major energy consuming thrust areas include industrializa-

tion, transportation, and agricultural sectors. Fossil fuels are key sources to bear the

burden of the entire world energy demand. Currently, about 80% of the worldwide

energy is fulfilled by fossil fuel among which 58% is taken up by the transportation

sector [1]. The continuous depletion of oil deposits, ever increasing fuel consump-

tion and environmental pollution has stimulated mankind to develop an alternative

approach from the sustainable and renewable source of energy. One of the promising

alternatives to the fossil fuel is biofuel that is renewable, biodegradable, domesti-

cally grown source, safer, and cheaper [2]. Biofuels has many advantages over fossil

fuels, such as, negligible sulfur, ash content, less emission of greenhouse gases and

are eco-friendly than their petroleum-based competitors [3]. Biofuels produced from

various biomass sources are abundant and renewable in nature. Currently, one such

biofuel to gain attention worldwide is biobutanol produced from lignocellulosic and

starchy feedstock, like agricultural and forest residues.

In recent years, conversion of waste biomass to produce bioenergy such as

biogas, biofuel and valuable chemicals are gaining importance. It is estimated

that 146 billion metric tons/year of available biomass in the world is not utilized

and discarded as waste or incinerated [4]. The waste lignocellulose and starchy

biomass reduces the soil fertility and cause environmental pollution. Inadequacy

of these waste disposal techniques in the twenty-first century has become a global

issue for many developing as well as for developed countries. The ever increasing

generation of lignocellulose and starchy wastes due to industrial and agricultural

activities has relentlessly increased the problem of waste management and disposal.

Many developing countries are tackling this problem by switching to zero waste

concept by channeling these wastes into biobutanol which is the main center of

bio-economy.

Biotechnology for Zero Waste: Emerging Waste Management Techniques, First Edition.

Edited by Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain and Ravi Kumar Kadeppagari.