Emerging Biomass Conversion Technologies for Obtaining Value-Added Chemicals and Fuels from Biomass

Abstract

Biomass is a renewable fuel.Several technologies have been developed for biomass conversion to obtain value-added chemicals and fuels such as gasification, anaerobic digestion, hydrolysis, fermentation, and hydrogenation.Biomass may also be directly used for power generation.Interest in the production of bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas from the biomass has increased the world over.Efforts are also underway to make the production of hydrogen from the biomass cost effective.Availability of biomass is to be increased manifold.Improved scientific planning and management may help in growing plenty of biomass, which may be compressed and collected.Development of cost-competitive biomass conversion technologies such as chemical, thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes may afford the utilization of biomass to obtain hydrogen , biogas, alcohols, biodiesel and other cleaner fuels for power generation and transport.Biomass may also afford the production of feedstock for chemical, petrochemical and other industries.This may help in establishing bioeconomy of the future.