Handbook of Biomass

This handbook constitutes state-of-the-art research covering topics such as chemical constituents of biomass, their specific properties, characterization and different applications. The contents also discuss challenges and issues involved in its applications. This volume brings together a number of biomass-derived potential renewable elements and its circular economy approach in one place. The content includes industrial applications and fills the gap in laboratory research works to practical applications in related industries. The book gives an insight towards the circular economy approach by the biomass, different gross morphologies of biomasses and the valuable chemical constituents that can be derived from the biomass and moreover the potential applications of all those constituents. It enables researchers and scientists to get informed of the designs to improve existing utilization of biomass in an efficient manner and deliver better products at lower cost.

The volume isuseful reference for professionals, researchers, industrial practitioners, graduate students and senior undergraduates in the fields of polymer science, bioscience and bioengineering. It also provides an in-depth reference for biomass processors and fabricators and for industry sectors utilizing biomass such as packaging, sensors, film manufacturers, medical device manufacturers and biomedical engineers.

Prof. Sabu Thomas is former Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India and the Founder Director and Professor of the International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Prof. Thomas is known for his international acclaims for his work in nanoscience, polymer science and engineering, polymer nanocomposites, elastomers, polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, polymer membranes, green composites and nanocomposites, nanomedicine and green nanotechnology. Dr. Thomas's ground breaking inventions in polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, green bionanotechnological and nano-biomedical sciences, have made transformative differences in the development of new materials for automotive, space, housing and biomedical fields.

Dr. Mahesh Hosur took the position of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs at Texas A&M University - Kingsville (TAMUK) in August 2018. He also serves as the Director of the Ph.D. program in Engineering at TAMUK. Currently, he is the Director of NSF funded Center for Sustainable Water Use, a $5M award over five years. Dr. Hosur has led research efforts worth $36.5 M as PI and over $40 M as Co-PI. He also secured over $6.4M support for graduate students from the State of Alabama, USA.

Dr. Daniel Pasquini is currently an Associate Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil, where he held the position of coordinator of the postgraduate program in biofuels whose program is accredited as a permanent member, being able to guide at master's and PhD level. He is also an accredited professor in the postgraduate program in chemistry at UFU. It is currently developing projects related to the valorization of plant macromolecules, chemical modification of these macromolecules, development of new materials derived from renewable sources for applications such as polymer materials for various applications, such as composites, nanocomposites, nanofibers, spherical nanoparticles and membranes. He also works in projects related to the production chain of bioethanol and biodiesel.

Dr. Cintil Jose Chirayil is Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Newman College, Kerala, India. She received her Ph.D. in Polymer Science from Mahatma Gandhi University, India, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Centre for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha. She has 10 years of research experience in the field of nanoscience and nanocellulose with 18 publications in international peer reviewed journals and ten book chapters and one edited book.