Innovative Eco-processes Converting Biomass to Value-added Products

Biomasses serve as primary examples of bio-waste conversion for value-added products. The processes presented in this book are also applicable to similar bio-wastes. Each chapter details the bioconversion, bioprocessing, and downstream processing of chemical substitutes derived from used biomass, produced through mild methods and ending with zero waste. This approach bypasses the challenges associated with conventional methods. This conversion process offers a twofold benefit: mitigating air pollution from bad disposal as waste open burning and producing environmentally friendly alternatives for petroleum-based products.

Key Features

• Primary Renewable Source for Chemical Feedstocks Biomass is emerging as the leading renewable alternative to petrochemicals, offering a sustainable pathway for producing chemical raw materials while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Waste-to-Value Conversion Technology The research focuses on transforming various bio-wastes (straws, used oil, urine, chicken feathers, gelatin, and paper wastes) into valuable industrial raw materials through innovative chemical recycling processes.
• Environmental Dual Benefits The bioconversion process provides two major environmental advantages: preventing air pollution from improper waste disposal (like open burning that causes "black clouds") and creating eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based products.
• Cost-Effective Industrial Applications The technology offers low-cost processes that produce affordable local alternatives to imported products, providing significant economic benefits alongside environmental improvements.
• Zero-Waste Mild Processing Methods The approach utilizes gentle, environmentally friendly processing techniques that result in complete waste elimination, bypassing the challenges and harsh conditions associated with conventional chemical manufacturing methods. These features highlight how biomass conversion technology addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: environmental protection, economic efficiency, and sustainable industrial development.

Prof. Galal A. M. Nawwar completed his Ph.D. in 1983. In 1995, he became a professor of organic chemistry at the National Research Centre in Cairo, Egypt. He has served as the president of both the Chemical Industry institute and the Green Chemistry Department. His research program aims to synthesize biologically active small molecules and develop cost-effective discoveries utilizing waste to produce value-added products via zero-waste processes. Nawwar has published around 120 papers and holds 17 patents. He has supervised 25 PhD and master’s theses. He has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Vienna, Austria; Odense, Denmark; and Regensburg, Germany. In his career, he had different evolutions agreements with multinational giant firms such as BASF, Merck, and DOW. He was awarded a golden medal at Geneva, Switzerland, innovations exhibition in 2018 and the World Intellectual Property organization Medal (2017 WIPO), these besides some local and regional awards.

Hoda Sabry Othman is a researcher at the Green Chemistry Department of the National Research Centre in Egypt. She earned her PhD in 2020 from Ain Shams University, Egypt. Othman has authored many scientific articles and participated in several research projects. Her main research interest focuses on valorizing waste via eco-friendly recycling procedures to produce low-cost green additives, which can serve as alternatives to those from petrochemical sources in a wide spectrum of industrial applications.