ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the rst processing steps for fuel ethanol production from different feedstocks, especially starchy and lignocellulosic materials, are analyzed from the viewpoint of process synthesis. The importance of conditioning and pretreatment as decisive process steps for conversion of feedstocks into ethanol is highlighted. Main methods for conditioning molasses are presented as well as the enzymatic procedures for starch hydrolysis. The need of pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is analyzed considering the complexity of this type of raw material. Several methods for pretreatment and detoxication of biomass are briey described.
