Providing state-of-the-art information on the status of biofuel production, in particular, bioethanol and biodiesel, this volume discusses the use of thermochemical and biochemical methods to transform biomass materials to biofuels. It describes the production of biodiesel from various plant sources, including karanja seed, jatropha seed, and rubber seed oils. The book examines the influence of increased demand on the international market price of ethanol and how the future of biodiesel requires improvements in conversion technology and an expansion of available feedstock through increased oil yields or oilseed production.

Plant-Based Biofuels: An Introduction. World Biofuel Scenario. Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquids and Gaseous Fuels. Production of Biofuels with Special Emphasis on Biodiesel.Fuel Ethanol: Current Status and Outlook. Bioethanol from Biomass: Production of Ethanol from Molasses. Bioethanol from Starchy Biomass: Part I Production of Starch Saccharifying Enzymes. Bioethanol from Starchy Biomass: Part II Hydrolysis and Fermentation. Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Biomass: Part I Pretreatment of the Substrates. Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Biomass: Part II Production of Cellulases and Hemicellulases. Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Biomass: Part III Hydrolysis and Fermentation. Biodiesel: Current and Future Perspectives. Biodiesel Production Technologies and Substrates. Lipase-Catalyzed Preparation of Biodiesel. Biodiesel Production with Supercritical Fluid Technologies. Palm Oil Diesel Production and Its Experimental Test on a Diesel Engine. Biodiesel from Rice Bran Oil. Biodiesel Production Using Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) and Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) Seed Oil. Biodiesel Production from Mahua Oil and Its Evaluation in an Engine. Biodiesel Production from Rubber Seed Oil.