Biomass with Culture and Geography

This book introduces biomass which is utilized all over the world based on geographical, cultural, and historical background. It covers 18 major biomass types and several specific plants categorized into 3 groups based on their usage. The present and historical background of representative materials from biomass, such as cellulose, lignin, chitin, sugar, molasses, amylose, and other interesting natural biopolymers, such as hyaluronan, gum Arabic, and others are introduced. Furthermore, characteristic features of representative and influential plants, such as rice, eucalyptus, and oil palm are described together with historical episodes. Although physicochemical characteristic properties of each material and plant have been published over many decades, scarcely a comprehensive introduction on biomass together with Asian, European, and Latin American cultural backgrounds. In this book, biomass familiar to everybody’s life is introduced based on scientific and cultural viewpoints. It guides readers to gain background knowledge of targeting biomass to be developed as industrial resources. In addition to students, scientists, and lecturers, the book will be useful for industrial engineers, both specialists in polymer science and technology and materials experts.

Tatsuko Hatakeyama ​Graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Doctorate: Tokyo Institute of Technology. Former senior scientist at National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Former professor at Otsuma Women’s University. Former president, Lignocel Research Co. Ltd. Publication: Scientific Papers, books, and reports: 367. Activities of Scientific Society: Chief Editor of J. Fibre Science and Technology, Japan, editorial member of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Japan, and others. Japanese committee member of International Standardization Organization (ISO), TC-61. Award: the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan and the Society of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Japan.

Hyoe Hatakeyama Graduated from the University of Tokyo. Doctorate: The University of Tokyo. Former Chief Senior Scientist, the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology. Former Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Fukui University of Technology. Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Sweden. Lifetime-Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science. Awards: from the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan; from the Agency of Science and Technology, Japan. Emperor’s medal: The Order of the Sacred Treasure. Publications (book and scientific papers): 415. Research interest: chemical and physical properties of lignin