Biomass Conversion Processes for Energy and Fuels

Description

Countless pages have been written on alternative energy sources since the fall of 1973 when our dependence on fossil petroleum resources became a grim reality. One such alternative is the use of biomass for producing energy and liquid and gaseous fuels. The term "biomass" generally refers to renewable organic matter generated by plants through photosynthesis. Thus trees, agri­ cultural crops, and aquatic plants are prime sources of biomass. Furthermore, as these sources of biomass are harvested and processed into commercial prod­ ucts, residues and wastes are generated. These, together with municipal solid wastes, not only add to the total organic raw material base that can be utilized for energy purposes but they also need to be removed for environmental reasons. Biomass has been used since antiquity for energy and material needs. In is still one of the most sought-after energy sources in most of the fact, firewood world. Furthermore, wood was still a dominant energy source in the U. S. only a hundred years ago (equal with coal). Currently, biomass contributes about 15 2 quadrillion Btu (l quad = 10 Btu) of energy to our total energy consump­ tion of about 78 quad. Two quad may not seem large when compared to the contribution made by petroleum (38 quad) or natural gas (20 quad), but bio­ mass is nearly comparable to nuclear energy (2. 7 quad). Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Residues and Wastes....Pages 3-24 Agricultural and Forestry Residues....Pages 25-47 Aquatic Biomass....Pages 49-56 Marine Biomass....Pages 57-77 Silvicultural Energy Farms....Pages 79-98 Front Matter....Pages 99-99 Basic Principles of Direct Combustion....Pages 103-124 The Andco-Torrax System....Pages 125-141 Basic Principles of Thermochemical Conversion....Pages 145-172 The Occidental Flash Pyrolysis Process....Pages 173-185 Carboxylolysis of Biomass....Pages 187-200 The Tech-Air Pyrolysis Process....Pages 201-211 The Purox Process....Pages 213-234 Gasification....Pages 235-263 The Syngas Recycle Process....Pages 265-274 Basic Principles of Bioconversions in Anaerobic Digestion and Methanogenesis....Pages 277-296 Design of Small-Scale Biogas Plants....Pages 297-313 Anaerobic Digestion of Kelp....Pages 315-338 Basic Principles of Ethanol Fermentation....Pages 339-355 Ethanol Production by Fermentation....Pages 357-373 Front Matter....Pages 375-375 Technical Considerations of Biomass Conversion Processes....Pages 377-398 Front Matter....Pages 375-375 Economic Considerations of Biomass Conversion Processes....Pages 399-409 Back Matter....Pages 411-420