Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. A general introduction to biomass utilization possibilities -- 2. Biomass composition and its relevance to biorefining -- 3. Catalytic upgrading of fats and vegetable oils for the production of fuels -- 4. Heterogeneous catalysis for biodiesel production -- 5. Catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass -- 6. Pathways and mechanisms of fast pyrolysis : impact on catalyst research -- 7. The role of catalytic pretreatment in biomass valorization toward fuels and chemicals -- 8. Role of acid catalysis in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals -- 9. Catalytic depolymerization and deoxygenation of lignin -- 10. Tomorrow's biofuels : hybrid biogasoline by co-processing in FCC units -- 11. Catalytic hydrotreatment of bio-oils for high-quality fuel production -- 12. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to biofuels (BtL process) -- 13. Integrating white biotechnology in lignocellulosic biomass transformations : from enzyme-catalysis to metabolic engineering -- 14. Steam reforming of bio-oils to hydrogen -- 15. Photocatalytic production of renewable hydrogen -- 16. Catalytic transformation of CO2 to fuels and chemicals, with reference to biorefineries -- 17. The role of heterogeneous catalysis in the biorefinery of the future.

Focuses primarily on the state-of-the-art catalysts and catalytic processes expected to play a decisive role in the "green" production of fuels and chemicals from biomass.