Industrial Biotechnology. Sustainable Growth and Economic Success.

Edited by W. Soetaert, , E.J. Vandamme. 2010, pp. 499, £140.00, ISBN: 978-3-527-31442-3. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany.

This comprehensive textbook covers the enabling sciences and technologies, the application domains, as well as the economic and societal impact of industrial biotechnology, also referred to as “white biotechnology”. Industrial Biotechnology is an environmentally friendly and sustainable technology that uses micro-organisms and their enzymes to make new and innovative bioproducts, useful in chemistry, energy supply, food and feed, paper and pulp, textiles, personal care, etc.

The book is divided into 14 parts: 1. History of industrial biotechnology; 2. Industrial systems biology; 3. Fermentation technology; 4. Directed evolution of industrial biocatalysts; 5. The industrial production of enzymes; 6. Applied biocatalysis: An Overview; 7. Nanobiotechnology; 8. Downstream processing in industrial biotechnology; 9. Industrial biotechnology in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; 10. Industrial biotechnology in the food and feed sector; 11. Industrial biotechnology in the paper and pulp sector; 12. Biofuels: Production and applications; 13. Enviromental and economic aspects of industrial biotechnology; 14. Societal issues in industrial biotechnology.

This book is equally very suitable as an introductory handbook to students, scientists and academics as well as researchers and engineers in a wide range of industries, including the chemical, pharmaceutical and, agro-industry.