As nonrenewable chemical feedstocks are depleted, new sources of materials and chemicals must be developed to fill the need. This new volume examines the technologies now emerging for the use of biomass as an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to the problem. Its 25 chapters are divided into three sections covering: lignocellulosic materials and composites; biopolymers: alloys, derivatives, and blends: and chemicals and fuels from biomass and wastes.
Each section opens with review chapters summarizing potentials and opportunities. Together these sections offer evidence of the cost effectiveness and technical possibilities in using biomassed resources for materials and chemicals.