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Special issue from the 20th International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels (ISAF 2013): Alcohol fuels enabling sustainable development

Edited by Prof Willem H van Zyl

This special issue of Biotechnology for Biofuels features selected results and conclusions from the 20th International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels (ISAF 2013), which captures recent advances in conversion technologies for a variety of feedstocks and developments in microbes for raw starch and lignocellulose conversion. Many of these technologies and organismal developments could have applications in developing sustainable biofuel options for the future.

This collection of articles has not been sponsored and articles have undergone the journal’s standard peer-review process. The Guest Editors declare no competing interests.

Submissions to this series are now closed.

  1. Among the world’s continents, Africa has the highest incidence of food insecurity and poverty and the highest rates of population growth. Yet Africa also has the most arable land, the lowest crop yields, and b...

    Authors: Lee R Lynd, Mariam Sow, Annie FA Chimphango, Luis AB Cortez, Carlos H Brito Cruz, Mosad Elmissiry, Mark Laser, Ibrahim A Mayaki, Marcia AFD Moraes, Luiz AH Nogueira, Gideon M Wolfaardt, Jeremy Woods and Willem H van Zyl
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2015 8:18
    Content type: Review Published on:

  3. Microbial cellulose conversion by Clostridium thermocellum 27405 occurs predominantly through the activity of substrate-adherent bacteria organized in thin, primarily single cell-layered biofilms. The importance ...

    Authors: Alexandru Dumitrache, Gideon M Wolfaardt, David Grant Allen, Steven N Liss and Lee R Lynd
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:175
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Sweet sorghum is regarded as a very promising energy crop for ethanol production because it not only supplies grain and sugar, but also offers lignocellulosic resource. Cost-competitive ethanol production requ...

    Authors: Jihong Li, Shizhong Li, Bing Han, Menghui Yu, Guangming Li and Yan Jiang
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:174
    Content type: Research Published on:

  5. Bamboo is potentially an interesting feedstock for advanced bioethanol production in China due to its natural abundance, rapid growth, perennial nature and low management requirements. Liquid hot water (LHW) p...

    Authors: Jade Littlewood, Lei Wang, Colin Turnbull and Richard J Murphy
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:173
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. The lignocellulosic enzymes of Trichoderma species have received particular attention with regard to biomass conversion to biofuels, but the production cost of these enzymes remains a significant hurdle for their...

    Authors: Isa Jacoba Marx, Niël van Wyk, Salome Smit, Daniel Jacobson, Marinda Viljoen-Bloom and Heinrich Volschenk
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:172
    Content type: Research Published on:

  8. Empty fruit bunch (EFB) has many advantages, including its abundance, the fact that it does not require collection, and its year-round availability as a feedstock for bioethanol production. But before the sign...

    Authors: Won-Il Choi, Ji-Yeon Park, Joon-Pyo Lee, You-Kwan Oh, Yong Chul Park, Jun Seok Kim, Jang Min Park, Chul Ho Kim and Jin-Suk Lee
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:170
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. Integration of second-generation (2G) bioethanol production with existing first-generation (1G) production may facilitate commercial production of ethanol from cellulosic material. Since 2G hydrolysates have a...

    Authors: Borbála Erdei, Dóra Hancz, Mats Galbe and Guido Zacchi
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:169
    Content type: Research Published on:

  10. Robust yeasts with high inhibitor, temperature, and osmotic tolerance remain a crucial requirement for the sustainable production of lignocellulosic bioethanol. These stress factors are known to severely hinde...

    Authors: Lorenzo Favaro, Marina Basaglia, Alberto Trento, Eugéne Van Rensburg, Maria García-Aparicio, Willem H Van Zyl and Sergio Casella
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:168
    Content type: Research Published on:

  11. Starch is one of the most abundant organic polysaccharides available for the production of bio-ethanol as an alternative transport fuel. Cost-effective utilisation of starch requires consolidated bioprocessing...

    Authors: Marko J Viktor, Shaunita H Rose, Willem H van Zyl and Marinda Viljoen-Bloom
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:167
    Content type: Research Published on:

  12. Rice straw has considerable potential as a raw material for bioethanol production. Popping pretreatment of rice straw prior to downstream enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation was found to increase cellulose t...

    Authors: Seung Gon Wi, In Seong Choi, Kyoung Hyoun Kim, Ho Myeong Kim and Hyeun-Jong Bae
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:166
    Content type: Research Published on:

  13. Saccharification and fermentation of pretreated lignocellulosic materials, such as spruce, should be performed at high solids contents in order to reduce the cost of the produced bioethanol. However, this has ...

    Authors: Kerstin Hoyer, Mats Galbe and Guido Zacchi
    Citation: Biotechnology for Biofuels 2013 6:145
    Content type: Research Published on: