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  • © 2020

Chemistry of Renewables

An Introduction

  • First introductory textbook on the industrial chemistry of renewable raw materials
  • Suitable for lecturers at universities and chemistry teachers as well as for self-study for students
  • Authors have over 30 years experience of teaching lectures on 'Renewable Resources'

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Table of contents (20 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. The Overview - Introduction

    • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
    Pages 1-14
  3. FatsFats and OilsOils

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 15-15
    2. The Raw Materials of Oleochemistry - Oil Plants

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 17-35
    3. The Basics of Oleochemistry - Basic Oleochemicals

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 37-60
    4. The Coproduct of Oleochemistry - Glycerol

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 89-109
  4. CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 111-111
  5. CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

    1. Sweet Chemistry - Mono - and Disaccharides

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 113-141
    2. From Wood to Pulp - Cellulose

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 143-160
    3. Products with a Little Twist - Starch

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 161-176
    4. Carbohydrates from the Sea - Chitin , Chitosan and Algae

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 177-189
    5. Cyclic Carbohydrates - Cyclodextrins

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 191-198
  6. LigninLignin

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 199-199
  7. LigninLignin

    1. The “ Wood -Stuff” - Lignin

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 201-215
  8. TerpenoidsTerpenoids

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 217-217
  9. TerpenoidsTerpenoids

    1. The Balm of the Trees - Terpenes

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 219-234
    2. Elastomers from Nature! - Polyterpenes

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 235-248
  10. Other Natural Substances

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 249-249
    2. Building Blocks of Life - Amino Acids

      • Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker
      Pages 251-264

About this book

This textbook introduces the industrial production and processing of natural resources. It is divided into six major topics (fats and oils, carbohydrates, lignin, terpenoids, other natural products, biorefinery), which are divided into a total of 20 chapters.

Each chapter is self-contained and therefore a compact learning unit, which can be worked on by students in self-study or presented by lecturers. Clear illustrations, flow diagrams, apparatus drawings and photos facilitate the understanding of the subject matter. All chapters end with a succinct summary, the "Take Home Messages". Each chapter is supplemented by ten short test questions, which can be solved quickly after working through the chapter; the answers are at the end of the book. All chapters contain bibliographical references that focus on essential textbooks and reference works. As a prior knowledge, only basic knowledge of chemistry is required.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

    Arno Behr, Thomas Seidensticker

About the authors

Prof. Dr. Arno Behr was born in Aachen, Germany, where he studied chemistry at the Technical University finishing his PhD in 1979. After his habilitation at the RWTH Aachen he worked for ten years at Henkel company (Düsseldorf/Germany) in the field of the use and processing of renewable raw materials as department head in the chemical process development. From 1996 until 2017, he was full Professor for Industrial Chemistry at TU Dortmund University/Germany. In his research group renewable resources, in particular oleo compounds, terpenes and sugars, were important substrates. He is the author or co-author of a total of ten books dealing with industrial chemistry, catalysis and the chemistry of carbon dioxide.


Dr. Thomas Seidensticker, was born in Marl, Germany, and studied chemistry at TU Dortmund University/Germany. He received his doctoral degree with distinction in 2016 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Arno Behr. Since 2017, he is a junior research group leader in the group with Prof. Dr. Dieter Vogt in the Laboratories of Industrial Chemistry at TU Dortmund University. His research is dedicated to sustainable process design for homogeneous catalysts, including the development of innovative recycling methods and the conversion of renewable resources. For several years he has been a lecturer and trainer for lectures on renewable resources and has also written several review articles on this topic.


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access