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.

1 Overview/Introduction

I Fats and Oils
2 Plant Oils
3 Fat Products/Oleochemicals
4 Reactions of fatty acid chains/Special Oleochemical Products
5 The by-product of Oleochemistry/Glycerol
II Carbohydrate
6 Sugar Chemistry
7 From wood to pulp/Cellulose
8 Starch Chemistry
9 Carbohydrates from the sea
10 Cyclodextrins
III Lignin
11 Woods' essential ingredient/Lignin
IV Terpenoids
12 Tree Balm/Terpenes
13 Natural rubber and its processing
V Other Natural Products
14 Building blocks of life/Amino acids and proteins
15 Natural Dyes
16 Natural Pharmaceuticals
17 The essential 'amines'
18 Natural Fragrances and Flavours
19 Plastics from nature/Biopolymers
VI Biorefineries
20 Smart raw materials
Answers to the 'Quickies'
Index.