High worldwide demand for energy, unstable and uncertain petroleum sources, and concern over global climate change has led to resurgence in the development of alternative energy that can displace fossil transportation fuel. Biomass is con­sidered to be an important renewable source for securing future energy supply, production of fine chemicals and sustainable development.

Having looked at a lot of integrated multi-disciplinary research on biomass conversion into energy and fine chemicals, I was delighted to find that this book does exactly what it says on the cover — it provides a guide to conversion of biomass into energy, biofuels and fine chemicals. This timely book covers many different topics: from biomass conversion to energy, the concept of green chem­istry (the applications of ionic liquids for biomass conversion), catalysts in ther­mochemical biomass conversion, production of biobutanol, bioethanol, bio-oil, biohydrogen and fine chemicals, the perceptive of biorefinery processing and bioextraction. The majority of chapters survey topics that will allow the reader to obtain a greater understanding about biomass conversion and the role of multi­disciplinary subjects which include biotechnology, microbiology, green chemistry, materials science and engineering.

I am pleased that the editors took on the challenge to give an excellent overview of the different techniques for biomass conversion applied in academia and industry. Their expertise and their valuable network of contributors have made this volume a highly respected work that has a central place in this series on renewable resources.

National University of Singapore Dr. Seeram Ramakrishna

Singapore, February 2012 Professor of Mechanical Engineering

and Bioengineering Vice-President (Research Strategy)