Metabolic Regulation and Metabolic Engineering for Biofuel and Biochemical Production

Global warming is a critical issue caused by CO2 gas emitted from factories and burning of fossil fuels. Biofuel and biochemical production from renewable bio-resources has been paid attention to address this problem. However, the 1st generation biofuels have been produced from corn starch and sugarcane, which causes food and energy issues. The 2nd generation biofuel production from lingo-cellulosic biomass or wastes requires energy intensive pretreatment and slow fermentation due to low growth rate. The 3rd generation biofuel production from photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria and algae has low cell growth rate and productivity. The main part of such production processes is the fermentation by micro-organisms, which requires proper understanding of cell metabolism and efficient metabolic engineering. The book provides comprehensive explanation of cell metabolism and metabolic regulation mechanisms of various micro-organisms and efficient metabolic engineering approaches to design microbial cell factories for efficient cell growth and biofuel and biochemical production.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 325 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The global warming problem is becoming increasingly critical each year, leading to climate disasters worldwide. It is believed that CO2 gas emitted from factories and the burning of fossil fuels may be a significant contributor to global warming. Additionally, the global stock of fossil fuels is limited and may be depleted within a few decades. While wind, geo-thermal, and tide energies are considered clean energy sources, they are dependent on land or sea locations and are susceptible to climate change. As a result, biofuel and biochemical production from renewable bio-resources has gained significant attention from environmental protection and energy production perspectives. The first generation of biofuels, produced from corn starch and sugarcane, has been widely used in the USA and Brazil. However, this has led to the "food and energy issues" as the production scale increases. The second generation of biofuels, produced from lingo-cellulosic biomass or wastes, has been proposed as a solution. However, it requires energy-intensive pretreatment for the degradation of lingo-cellulosic biomass, and the fermentation is slow due to low growth rates, resulting in low productivity of biofuels and bio-chemicals. The third generation of biofuels, produced from photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria and algae, has been proposed as a potential solution. These organisms can grow using only sun light and CO2 in the air, but their cell growth rates and thus the productivity of the fuels are significantly low. The main part of these production processes is the fermentation by microorganisms. In particular, it is critical to understand the fermentation process and optimize it to maximize the production of biofuels and bio-chemicals. This can be achieved through various techniques such as genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, and process optimization. Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy can further enhance the sustainability of these production processes. However, the development of biofuels and bio-chemicals also raises several ethical and environmental concerns. For example, the use of land for biofuel production may lead to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the production of biofuels may require large amounts of water, which can lead to water scarcity in some regions. To address these concerns, it is important to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes. This can be achieved through the use of renewable energy sources, the development of new technologies, and the implementation of policies that promote sustainable development. In conclusion, the global warming problem is a critical issue that requires immediate action. Biofuel and biochemical production from renewable bio-resources has the potential to provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the problem. However, the development of these production processes requires careful consideration of ethical and environmental concerns. By developing sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes, we can help to mitigate the effects of global warming and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Weight: 753g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367782191