Present work deals with the biotechnological production of fuel ethanol from different raw materials. The different technologies for
producing fuel ethanol from sucrose-containing feedstocks (mainly sugar cane), starchy materials and lignocellulosic biomass are
described along with the major research trends for improving them. The complexity of the biomass processing is recognized through
the analysis of the different stages involved in the conversion of lignocellulosic complex into fermentable sugars. The features of fermentation
processes for the three groups of studied feedstocks are discussed. Comparative indexes for the three major types of feedstocks for
fuel ethanol production are presented. Finally, some concluding considerations on current research and future tendencies in the production
of fuel ethanol regarding the pretreatment and biological conversion of the feedstocks are presented.
2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.