About this Research Topic
Biomass conversion involves transforming biomass sources like plants, trees, agricultural waste, and organic municipal solid waste into useful energy products. As renewable sources of carbon, biomass feedstocks provide a promising route for sustainable fuels and chemicals production while mitigating climate change. Thermochemical, biochemical, and chemical catalysis methods can be utilized to break down biomass via pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction, anaerobic digestion, fermentation, and other processes. The resulting bio-oils, syngas, biochar, and platform chemicals offer versatile applications for heat, power, biofuels, and value-added products in sectors like transportation, electricity, chemicals, agriculture, and more. With advantages in energy security, rural development, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, biomass conversion technologies have generated growing interest worldwide.
Thermal conversion methods like pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction break down biomass feedstocks using heat to produce biofuels and chemicals. However, issues like low energy efficiency, poor product quality, reactor costs, and process optimization persist. The bio-oils contain high oxygen levels requiring upgrading to stable hydrocarbon fuels. The syngas and biochar have low heating values and limited applications without further processing. Operating conditions like temperature, pressure, catalysts, and reactor types strongly influence product distribution and yields. Despite these drawbacks, thermally converted biofuels already contribute to renewable power and heat generation. The bio-oils can replace fuel oil for industrial boilers and furnaces. With additional research into catalytic reforming and stabilization, they may eventually substitute for diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. The syngas can be used for producing synthetic natural gas, methanol, and hydrogen. The biochar shows potential for carbon sequestration and soil amendment. Addressing the remaining scientific and techno-economic barriers will enable thermal conversion to realize the full promise of biomass for sustainable, clean energy.
Subjects covered include, but are not limited to:
• Thermal conversion of biomass, production, and development of biomass energy, and research on biomass conversion technology.
• Utilization of biomass energy, and the relationship between biomass energy and the environment.
• Synthesis methods of biomass chemicals, flavors and fragrances, and synthesis, separation and purification technology.
• The design and synthesis of biomass materials, performance analysis and evaluation of new products, market applications of biomass products.
Thermal conversion methods like pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction break down biomass feedstocks using heat to produce biofuels and chemicals. However, issues like low energy efficiency, poor product quality, reactor costs, and process optimization persist. The bio-oils contain high oxygen levels requiring upgrading to stable hydrocarbon fuels. The syngas and biochar have low heating values and limited applications without further processing. Operating conditions like temperature, pressure, catalysts, and reactor types strongly influence product distribution and yields. Despite these drawbacks, thermally converted biofuels already contribute to renewable power and heat generation. The bio-oils can replace fuel oil for industrial boilers and furnaces. With additional research into catalytic reforming and stabilization, they may eventually substitute for diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. The syngas can be used for producing synthetic natural gas, methanol, and hydrogen. The biochar shows potential for carbon sequestration and soil amendment. Addressing the remaining scientific and techno-economic barriers will enable thermal conversion to realize the full promise of biomass for sustainable, clean energy.
Subjects covered include, but are not limited to:
• Thermal conversion of biomass, production, and development of biomass energy, and research on biomass conversion technology.
• Utilization of biomass energy, and the relationship between biomass energy and the environment.
• Synthesis methods of biomass chemicals, flavors and fragrances, and synthesis, separation and purification technology.
• The design and synthesis of biomass materials, performance analysis and evaluation of new products, market applications of biomass products.
Keywords: Biomass, thermal conversion, Bioenergy, Bioproduct, mechanism
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