Biomass Processing Technologies

Biomass has recently gained much more attention in the quest for a sustainable and renewable form of energy. The technologies for the conversion are evolving along with the increasing need for sustainable forms of energy. This chapter focuses on providing an overview of the recent advancements in the field of biomass conversion technologies. The chapter first deals with various forms of biomass, the energy potential, its importance in renewable energy, and its contribution to sustainable development. It also deals with various methods of biomass conversion, their pros and cons, etc. Much research is still going on for more and more advanced methods for biomass conversion. Some of the breakthrough discoveries in the field of biomass processing technologies in recent years are the production of jet fuel from industrial waste gases, biofuel from algae, biofuel from sludge waste, etc. Biomass processing technologies are very much advantageous to society, and at the same time, they face many challenges, and some of them are large amounts of moisture content, complexity and diversity, difficulty in finding proper chemicals, etc. Proper utilization and management of biomass can help in economic development as well as the sustainable development of society. The chapter mainly focuses on the thermochemical conversion of biomass, its significant advancements, industrial applications, advantages and disadvantages, feedstock availability, economic and technological stability, etc.