TABLE OF CONTENTS Biomass can be converted into commercial fuels, suitable substitute for fossil fuels (Narayan, 2007). These can be used for transportation, heating, electricity generation, or anything else fossil fuels are used for. The conversion is accomplished through the use of several distinct processes which include both biochemical conversion and thermal conversion to produce gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels which have high energy contents, are easily transportable, and are therefore suitable for use as commercial fuels.
Biochemical conversion of biomass is completed through alcoholic fermentation to produce liquid fuels and anaerobic digestion or fermentation, resulting in biogas. Alcoholic fermentation of crops such as sugarcane and maize (corn) to produce ethanol for use in internal combustion engines has been practiced for years with the greatest production occurring in Brazil and the United States, where ethanol has been blended with gasoline for use in automobiles. With slight engine modifications, automobiles can operate on ethanol alone.
Anaerobic digestion of biomass has been practiced for almost a century, and is very popular in many developing countries such as China and India. The organic fraction of almost any form of biomass, including sewage sludge, animal wastes, and industrial effluents, can be broken down through anaerobic digestion into methane and carbon dioxide. This biogas is a reasonably clean burning fuel which can be captured and put to many different end uses such as cooking, heating, or electricity generation.
Thermal conversion offers a more effective means for the recovery or...
