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Biomass Conversion Technologies: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Contributor: Huanli Gao

Biomass conversion technologies encompass a suite of thermochemical processes that transform organic matter—primarily lignocellulosic biomass—into energy carriers, chemical feedstocks, or solid residues through heat-induced chemical and physical transformations [1]. These processes operate at elevated temperatures and are fundamentally distinguished by the reaction environment, particularly the presence or absence of oxygen and the extent of oxidative conversion. The three principal thermochemical pathways are combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis, each characterized by distinct operating conditions and product distributions. Combustion involves the complete oxidation of biomass in excess oxygen, yielding carbon dioxide, water, and thermal energy [2]. Gasification subjects biomass to controlled amounts of oxygen or steam at high temperatures (typically 700–1,500°C), producing a combustible synthesis gas (syngas) composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen [3]. Pyrolysis, in contrast, entails the thermal decomposition of biomass in the complete absence of oxygen at moderate temperatures (typically 300–700°C), yielding bio-oil, syngas, and solid char [2]. The fundamental mechanisms underlying these processes involve the thermal degradation of the three principal biomass constituents—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—through complex reaction networks that include depolymerization, dehydration, decarboxylation, and cross-linking reactions [4]. The product distribution and chemical composition of the conversion outputs are governed by key process parameters, including temperature, heating rate, residence time, and feedstock characteristics such as moisture content, particle size, and elemental composition [1]. Thermochemical conversion is distinguished from alternative biomass valorization routes, such as biochemical and physicochemical processes, by its reliance on thermal energy rather than biological catalysts or solvent-based extraction to drive molecular restructuring [2].

  • biomass conversion technologies
  • lignocellulosic biomass
  • gasification
  • bio-oil

References

  1. Yuzhuo Wang; Jun Jie Wu; Thermochemical conversion of biomass: Potential future prospects. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2023, 187, 113754, 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113754.
  2. Kawnish Kirtania. Thermochemical Conversion Processes for Waste Biorefinery; Elsevier: Amsterdam, NX, Netherlands, 2018; pp. 129-156. [CrossRef]
  3. Kunmi Joshua Abioye; Ricky Rajamanickam; Temidayo Ogunjinmi; Sujata Paul; Rangabhashiyam Selvasembian; Joshua O. Ighalo; Advancements in biomass waste conversion to sustainable biofuels via gasification. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 505, 159151 , 10.1016/j.cej.2024.159151.
  4. Hossein Shahbeik; Wanxi Peng; Hamed Kazemi Shariat Panahi; Mona Dehhaghi; Gilles J. Guillemin; Alireza Fallahi; Hamid Amiri; Mohammad Rehan; Deepak Raikwar; Hannes Latine; et al. Synthesis of liquid biofuels from biomass by hydrothermal gasification: A critical review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2022, 167, 112833, 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112833.
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