Biomass
Biomass
Biomass
Overview
All utilize energy fixed by photosynthetic reactions
Topics to be discussed
Biomass
Forms
Utilization
Benefits and drawbacks
Biodiesel
What is it?
How made
Utilization
Benefits and drawbacks
What is it?
Grain vs cellulosic
Utilization
Benefits and drawbacks
Ethanol
The Webquests
Biomass energy
Direct use of organic material
Harvested plant material
Waste material
Pulp manufacturing
Municipal waste
Animal wastes
Wood as biomass
Derived from trees and other long-lived plants
http://www.calmexfireplaces.com/images/logs-without-flame.jpg
Wood as biomass
Processing involves timbering, drying, cutting
into logs, and perhaps chipping
Thus, often easier to transport and use than
herbaceous plant matter
http://thetyee.cachefly.net/Opinion/2009/07/15/loggingtru
ck.jpg
http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/newsbulletin/images/
Firewood_Giveaway.jpg
Wood as biomass
Not all trees are equal
Growth rate
Wood density
Additional compounds
in wood
http://star.walagata.com/w/horizoncustomhomes/elliottii4.JPG
http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/research/NDGBP_CattleExclusion_notrees.jpg
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5011/images/coverphoto.jpg
Eucalyptus
Willow
Poplar
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/gallery/d/429-2/flM_FL_salt_marsh027.jpg
http://www.abe.msstate.edu/Biomass/images/gasifierpics/Chip
s&Pellets.jpg
http://www.ncagr.gov/Research/images/switchgrass.jpg
http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/
http://www.sbp.de/de/html/
Need ecosystem
disturbance to grow
in otherwise forested
areas
Need irrigation to
grow in deserts,
scrublands
Amenable to
cultivation in
greenhouses
Switchgrass
http://www.michelleworld.com/images/plants/Miscanthus%20s http://nybiofuels.info/generalInformation/biomass/
PublishingImages/switchgrass%20(Small).JPG
inensis%20%27Giganteus%27.jpg
Additional considerations
Ability to accumulate
biomass amenable to
breeding
Some companies
developing selfcontained biomass
cultivation processes
Biomass cultivation
viewed as beneficial
use of severely
disturbed lands
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ywpUG6208zg/SEbEtDK4tSI/AAAAAA
AAAJk/UcZIUHV4ycQ/134_3455.JPG
http://www.irenew.org/images/factsheets/biomass.jpg
http://www.gizmag.com/
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/
Biodiesel
Liquid fuel used to power
diesel engines and electrical
generation equipment
Produced by chemically
combining a lipid with an
alcohol (transesterification
reaction)
Byproduct is glycerin, used
to make soaps
Can be created by
processing food wastes
How to make
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/
biodiesel_flowers_websize.jpg
http://cdn-www.greencar.com/images/biodieselfacts/biodiesel-station.jpg
http://205.153.241.230/issues/emergejan2005/biodiesel_cartoon.jpg
Ethanol
Relatively small organic molecule
C2H5OH
Liquid at normal temperatures and pressures
Producing ethanol
Produced by processing
sugars
Anaerobic conditions
Fermentation
Distillation
Distillation requires
heating fluid, which
requires energy
http://www.loe.org/thisweek/050506ethanol.jpg
http://www.ethanol.org/images/contentmgmt/ethanol_production_chart_32807-1.jpg
ML
Depends on materials
normally used as food
Amenable to cultivation
Concern over diverting
resource from food supply
to energy supply
Concern over energy yield