There is increasing recognition that low-cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals are essential for expanding the utilization of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol via fermentation, high capacity processes are also required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels and chemicals. In addition to traditional conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis, new developments are considered, including catalytic routes for the production of liquid fuels from carbohydrates and the use of ionic liquids for lignocellulose utilization. The individual chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an introduction to each topic, as well as describing recent research developments. This book is an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels an dchemicals. There is increasing recognition that low-cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals are essential for expanding the utilization of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol via fermentation, high capacity processes are also required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels and chemicals. In addition to traditional conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis, new developments are considered, including catalytic routes for the production of liquid fuels from carbohydrates and the use of ionic liquids for lignocellulose utilization. Written by a team of international experts this book will be an essential reference for advanced and postgraduate level students, chemical and biological engineers, energy researchers, agricultural and environmental scientists from academia, industry and government. There is increasing recognition that low-cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals are essential for expanding the utilization of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol via fermentation, high capacity processes are also required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels and chemicals. In addition to traditional conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis, new developments are considered, including catalytic routes for the production of liquid fuels from carbohydrates and the use of ionic liquids for lignocellulose utilization. Written by a team of international experts this book will be an essential reference for advanced and postgraduate level students, chemical and biological engineers, energy researchers, agricultural and environmental scientists from academia, industry and government. Mark Crocker is an Associate Director at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, where he leads the Biofuels and Environmental Catalysis research program. He has four years experience in the field of biomass upgrading research and recently organized and taught a professional short course concerning this subject. He has also worked in industry and previously held posts as an R&D Manager for the Automotive Catalyst Division of OMG Corp (formerly Degussa) and as a Senior Research Chemist at the Shell Research and Technology Centre in Amsterdam. Mark Crocker holds a BSc in Chemistry and PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Bristol. He is a member of several scholarly societies and has contributed to numerous journal articles and conferences. Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals By Mark Crocker The Royal Society of Chemistry Copyright © 2010 Royal Society of Chemistry All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-84973-035-8 Contents Chapter 1 The Rationale for Biofuels Mark Crocker and Rodney Andrews, 1, Chapter 2 Energy Crops for the Production of Biofuels Michael Montross and Czarena Crofcheck, 26, Chapter 3 The Biorefinery Concept – Thermochemical Production of Building Blocks and Syngas Birgit Kamm, Mirko Gerhardt and Sebastian Leiß, 46, Chapter 4 Biomass Gasification James K. Neathery, 67, Chapter 5 Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals via the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Route Gary Jacobs and Bur