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Chapter 1: BIOMASS RESOURCES & CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOFUELS. By Dr Ku Syahidah Ku Ismail Adapted from Cheng, J. (2010) Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes. Biomass Energy Technology. Renewable Energy vs Fossil Fuel Energy. Fossil fuel reserves are limited and will be depleted.
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Chapter 1:BIOMASS RESOURCES & CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOFUELS By Dr Ku Syahidah Ku Ismail Adapted from Cheng, J. (2010) Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes
Renewable Energy vs Fossil Fuel Energy • Fossil fuel reserves are limited and will be depleted. • Burning fossil fuels causes environmental concerns eg. GHG emmission. • Energy from biomass releases CO2, but the CO2 is utilized for biosynthesis during the growth of biomass.
Types of Biomass Resources Sugarcane Corn Napier grass Lignocellulosic waste Algae
Sugar Crops • Includes sugarcane, sugar beets, sweet sorghum, apples, grapes etc. • Molasses – residual syrup remaining from crystallization of sugar from sugarcane and sugarbeets, is also a common feedstock • Pulp and papermillsludges contain 40-50 wt% glucose • These sugars can be directly fermented by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae .
Sugarcane • Brazil is the largest producer (514 million tons in 2007) • India is the second largest producer, followed by China. • It has stalks bunched in stools of 5-50 stalks • Can be grown in regular rotation with other crops. • Requires tropical or subtropical climate. • Time to maturity is between 8-24 months. • Strong sunlight and plentiful water is needed to meet the considerable growth potential.
Sugar Beet • A biennial root vegetable • High content of sucrose in its root. • Grown in temperate climates • Average sugar (sucrose) content is around 17% of total raw biomass. • World’s largest sugar beet producer: France, USA and Russia
Sweet Sorghum • Used in the production of sugar, syrup, fuel and roofing applications. • Thrive under drier and warmer conditions. • Largely produced in Asia, followed by North America. • The juice contains 56% sucrose, 30% glucose, 14% fructose.
Starch and Inulin Crops • Corn, potatoes, cassava etc. • Starch is a glucose polymer with 2 main components: amylose and amylopectin • Inulin, like starch, is a storage carbohydrate, but its basic unit is fructose rather than glucose • Inulin is commonly found in tuber crops such as dahlia and Jerusalem artichoke.
Corn • Typically planted in the spring when warm temperatures are condusive for growth. • Soil moisture is another key factor that determines the adaptability of corn to an area. • Predominant component of corn is starch, 64-78% of the total mass on a dry basis. • Other carbohydrates include cellulose fiber, pentosans, sucrose and monomeric sugars such as glucose, fructose and raffinose.
Wheat • China – largest producer, followed by India • Contains 77% starch content (dry basis)
Agricultural Residues • It refers to either crop residues or processing residues. • Corn stover – remains in a field after harvesting corn, includes stalks (50%), leaves (22%), cobs (15%) and husks (13%). • Wheat straw • Rice straw
Herbaceous Biomass • Switchgrass • Miscanthus • Coastal Bermuda Grass
Oil Seeds • Soybean • Rapeseed (Canola) • Sunflower • Oil Palm • Waste Edible Oil
Biofuel Characteristics • Biofuel – a solid, gaseous or liquid fuel produced from biomass • Ethanol, butanol, diesel etc. • 1st generation biofuel – food based material • 2nd generation biofuel – cellulosic materials • 3rd generation biofuel - algae
Comparison of Transportation Fuels Source: Brown, R.C. (2003) Biorenewable Resources
