Renewable Resource

Biomass

Biomass is biology material from living, or recently living organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials. As a renewable energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or indirectly—once or converted into another type of energy product such as biofuel. Biomass can be converted to energy in three ways: thermal conversion, chemical conversion, and biochemical conversion.

Scientists have discovered that biomass can be used as a substitute for petroleum.  Using enzymes to break down solid biomass waste into a renewable form.  There is sufficient biomass waste available to supply all of the organic chemicals that are consumed annually in the United States and still have enough waste left over to convert to auto fuel.  There is a need for renewable resources and energy flow. Through plant material, we can develop alternatives to petroleum-based products because bio-based fuels are recyclable while fossil-based fuels are not.

            Even though biomass wastes is cheaper as a raw material than oil, there is a drawback.  The price of converting biomass raw material is the major limitation to commercialization.  The plant biomass is chemically diverse, and it must be separated then converted into desired products. The challenge is to develop industries proficient in using this raw material and to develop more cost-effective enzymatic and microbial processes that convert these materials into industrial chemicals and energy.

Biomass fuel occurs when the plant through its metabolism takes in carbon dioxide, and carbon enters plant cells where it is converted into cell walls. Just like photosynthesis.   Biomass is a sustainable and potentially environmentally sound resource.   Biomass is considered to be one of the key renewable resources of the future at both small- and large-scale levels. It already supplies 14% of the world’s primary energy consumption.  With increases in population and demand per capita, and depletion of fossil-fuel resources, the demand for biomass is expected to increase rapidly in developing countries.  Using biomass as a fuel means that carbon dioxide, which was absorbed from the air while the plant was growing, is released back into the air when the fuel is burned. The system is said to be carbon neutral.  The manufacturing of biomass is going to occur where biomass is found. Biomass is typically found in rural areas meaning more manufacturing jobs would be created in rural areas.

            The most common processes developed so far use combustion to release energy. Just like coal is burned to produce power, biomass can be burned too. For example, leftover cornstalks (corn stover) can be burned to heat water into steam. The steam turns a turbine that spins a generator to produce electricity. Another process, called gasification, superheats plant material into a gaseous state. The gas can then be used to turn a turbine to drive a generator, producing electricity.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000331084341.htm

Works Cited

"Biomass." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomass>.

"Interesting Energy Facts." Biomass Energy Facts -. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com/2008/04/biomass-energy-facts.html>.