Lignocellulose based composites and biopolymers

Agro-forestry and industrial waste are the most abundant renewable resource on the Earth. The accumulation of this biomass in huge quantities every year results not only in environmental deterioration, but also represents an economic problem for the industries.The lignocelluloses have cellulose and lignin as a major component. Lignin and cellulose possess physico-chemical and thermal properties that make them suitable feedstocks for deriving various value added products. Lignocellulose material can be converted into various types of value added products such as biofuels, animal feedstuffs, pulp and paper products, energy production, antioxidants and in polymer composite preparation. The book discusses the occurrence and structure and extraction of lignocellulosics and methods for preparation of composites and bioploymers from it.Composites synthesized from lignocellulose have received attention because of their remarkable properties such as high strength, stiffness, toughness, low density low cost, low energy consumption, easy processability, high volume applications and possibility of recycling. The book summarizes various value added products and applications of lignocellulose.