From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy

Current Status and Challenges

1st Edition - March 13, 2025
Imprint: Woodhead Publishing
Editors: Electo silva lora, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Osvaldo josé venturini
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 8 4 - 4
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 8 5 - 1

From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy: Current Status and Challenges is a comprehensive volume on all aspects of biomass utilization for bioenergy, from the fundamentals to the lates… Read more

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From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy: Current Status and Challenges is a comprehensive volume on all aspects of biomass utilization for bioenergy, from the fundamentals to the latest commercial and regulatory issues. The book examines all aspects of biomass utilization, from technologies and processes to products. Sections examine the role of biomass in the energy transition, land availability for bioenergy projects, biomass logistics and supply chain, and assesses the lifecycle of bioenergy systems. Chapters are dedicated to each energy conversion route, including thermochemical, biochemical, and chemical, biofuels synthesis, hydrogen from biomass, biorefineries, electricity generation, and waste-to energy.

Policy and regulatory issues are also considered. Each chapter reviews the state-of-the-art, discusses disruptive technological approaches, and concludes with specific recommendations on how to achieve commercial competitiveness. Case studies provide examples of real-world applications in each chapter.

From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy
Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contributors
Foreword
Chapter One Energy transition, bioeconomics, and sustainability
Abstract
Keywords
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Concepts of energy transition, bioeconomics, and circular economy
1.3 Environmental issues leading to energy transition: Climate change and air pollution
1.4 Constraints in energy transition
1.5 Biomass role in energy transition
1.6 Case study: A advanced bioenergy example in a “hard to decarbonize” sector
1.7 Summary
References
Chapter Two Life cycle analysis and sustainability of bioenergy systems
Abstract
Keywords
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Sustainability: Metric and indexes
2.2.1 Environmental metrics and indexes
2.2.2 Economic metrics and indexes
2.2.3 Social metrics and indexes
2.2.4 LCSA
2.3 LCA as a tool for sustainability evaluation
2.4 LCA main issues and approaches
2.5 LCA of bioenergy systems: Limitations and uncertainties
2.6 LULUCF-LUC, land use, land use and change in forestry
2.7 Some examples of bioenergy LCA
2.8 IPCC guidelines
2.8.1 Phases of a GHG emissions and sinks inventory development
2.8.2 Global warming potential (GWP)
2.9 Case study—Summary
References
Chapter Three Agricultural residues and energy crops
Abstract
Keywords
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Different types of plant biomass and their availability
3.2.1 Main crops and agricultural residues
3.3 Energy crops: Yields in different geographical regions
3.4 Land availability for bioenergy and food security
3.5 Evaluation of bioenergy potentials: Global and Brazilian cases
3.5.1 Global bioenergy potential for 2050
3.5.2 The Brazilian bioenergy potential from residues
3.6 Case study: Generating power from urban pruning residues
3.6.1 Case study of energy valuation urban trees pruning residues: A small town in Southern Brazil
3.7 Summary
References
Chapter Four Sustainable biomass harvesting and transport logistics: A holistic optimization approach for bioenergy projects
Abstract
Keywords
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Biomass and residues market models
4.3 Biomass supply chain and its optimization
4.4 Harvest and preprocessing of agricultural and forest residues
4.5 Transport: Amplification factor (biomass distribution and tortuosity)
4.6 Storage: Open-air storage, bale stacks, silos, and costs
4.6.1 Open-air storage
4.7 GIS application for biomass logistics: Case studies
4.7.1 Logistics of transportation and storage
4.8 Summary
References
Chapter Five Biomass energy conversion: Routes and products
Abstract
Keywords
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Main conversion routes for renewable energy and chemicals
5.3 Physical-chemical characteristics of biomass
5.3.1 Biomass sources
5.3.2 Biomass chemical composition
5.3.3 Physical characteristics of biomass
5.3.4 Biomass pretreatment for conversion processes
5.4 Thermochemical conversion routes
5.4.1 Biomass combustion
5.4.2 Biomass gasification
5.4.3 Biomass pyrolysis
5.4.4 Hydrothermal liquefaction
5.5 Biochemical conversion route
5.5.1 Anaerobic digestion
5.5.2 Fermentation
5.5.3 Enzymatic saccharification
5.5.4 Esterification
5.6 Chemical/extraction conversion routes
5.6.1 Hydrolysis
5.6.2 Solvent extraction
5.7 Technological maturity—TRL
5.8 Technoeconomic analysis for biofuels and bioproducts
5.8.1 Indicators of economic performance
5.8.2 Integrated technoeconomic assessment
5.9 Case study
5.10 Summary
References
Chapter Six Thermochemical conversion: Combustion
Abstract
Keywords
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Complete and incomplete combustion equations
6.2.1 Complete combustion
6.2.2 Incomplete combustion
6.3 Equivalence ratio or excess air coefficient
6.4 Primary and secondary air
6.5 Furnaces for biomass combustion
6.5.1 Technical characteristics of the furnaces for biomass combustion
6.5.2 Biomass combustion furnaces for steam and electricity generation
6.6 Combustion technology improvements: Oxy-combustion and flameless combustion
6.6.1 Oxy-fuel combustion
6.6.2 Flameless combustion
6.7 Mass and energy balance in a biomass boiler
6.7.1 Mass balance (fuel and gas)
6.7.2 Ash balance
6.7.3 Water and steam balance
6.7.4 Energy balance
6.8 Steam boiler efficiency
6.8.1 Heat losses with exhaust gases
6.8.2 Incomplete combustion due to chemical unburnt losses
6.8.3 Incomplete combustion due to mechanical (physical) unburnt losses
6.8.4 Heat environment losses to the environment
6.8.5 Energy losses with ashes
6.8.6 Ashes behavior: Slagging, corrosion, and erosion
6.8.7 Biomass combustion modeling
6.9 Summary
References
Chapter Seven Thermochemical conversion: Gasification
Abstract
Keywords
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Main parameters and gasification equations
7.3 Gasifier types: Biomass size distribution and gas composition
7.4 Tar formation and gas cleaning
7.4.1 Tars
7.4.2 Other impurities
7.4.3 Gas cleaning processes
7.5 Gasification modeling
7.5.1 Chemical equilibrium models
7.5.2 Kinetic models
7.5.3 CFD model (computational fluid dynamics)
7.6 Economic, environmental, and social aspects of waste and biomass gasification for the sustainable energy transition
7.7 Examples of operating gasifiers
7.8 Case study: MSW gasification
References
Chapter Eight Thermochemical conversion: Pyrolysis
Abstract
Keywords
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Analytical pyrolysis. Reaction mechanisms and kinetic models
8.2.1 An overview of the analytical pyrolysis applications
8.2.2 Micropyrolyzers and the analytical tandem
8.2.3 Typical experimental procedure of a Py-GC/MS
8.2.4 Elucidation of pyrolysis kinetics
8.2.5 Mechanisms describing biomass pyrolysis
8.3 Pyrolysis products separation, upgrading, and commercialization
8.4 Biochar: Properties and utilization
8.4.1 Properties of biochar
8.4.2 Utilization of biochar
8.5 Charcoal as a special case of biochar
8.5.1 Charcoal production technologies
8.6 Commercial and planned pyrolysis plants
8.7 Economics of pyrolysis
8.8 Summary
References
Chapter Nine Biofuels through thermochemical conversion: Biomass-to-liquids
Abstract
Keywords
9.1 Introduction
9.1.1 Types of biomass-to-liquids fuels oxygenates and nonoxygenates
9.2 Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis
9.2.1 Biomass pretreatment
9.2.2 Biomass gasification
9.2.3 Gas cleaning
9.2.4 Biomass F-T process
9.3 Methanol synthesis
9.4 Dimethyl ether (DME)
9.5 Synthetic natural gas (SNG)
9.6 Alcohols
9.6.1 Properties of low alcohols
9.6.2 Potentials and applications of low alcohols as fuel and petrochemicals
9.7 Main BTL projects around the world
9.8 Case study
9.9 Summary
References
Chapter Ten Biofuel conversion: Biodiesel and renewable diesel
Abstract
Keywords
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Raw materials and yields
10.3 Transesterification technologies
10.4 Issues affecting biodiesel quality
10.5 Biodiesel standards
10.6 Advances in enzymatic and heterogeneous transesterification
10.7 Other transesterification methods
10.8 Renewable diesel from oil crops
10.9 LCA of biodiesel production from palm oil
10.10 Case study: Numerical problem
10.11 Summary
References
Chapter Eleven Biochemical conversion: Biogas
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgments
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Formation mechanisms and influencing parameters
11.2.1 Hydrolysis
11.2.2 Acidogenesis
11.2.3 Acetogenesis
11.2.4 Methanogenesis
11.2.5 Important parameters in AD
11.3 Substrates and yields
11.3.1 Agricultural or agro-industrial waste
11.3.2 Waste from food industries
11.3.3 Sewage treatment plants
11.3.4 Dedicated energy crops
11.3.5 Biochemical methane potential
11.3.6 Biogas typical composition
11.3.7 Modified Buswell equation
11.4 Codigestion issues
11.5 Charcoal and other additives
11.6 Upgrading to biomethane
11.6.1 Physical absorption
11.6.2 Water scrubbing
11.6.3 Organic solvent scrubbing
11.6.4 Chemical absorption with amines
11.6.5 Cryogenic separation
11.6.6 Pressure swing adsorption
11.6.7 Membrane technology
11.7 GIS utilization in biomethane programs implementation
11.8 Biogas to H2 production
11.8.1 Steam reforming process
11.8.2 Partial oxidation reforming
11.8.3 Autothermal reforming
11.8.4 Dry reforming
11.8.5 Dry oxidation reforming
11.9 LCA of biodigestion
11.10 Case study
11.10.1 Overview of the study
11.10.2 Proposed scenarios
11.10.3 Lessons learned and results
11.11 Summary
Chapter Twelve Biochemical conversion of biomass into bioethanol and biobutanol
Abstract
Keywords
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Bioethanol: Raw materials and yields
12.3 1G ethanol
12.4 Ethanol 2G and raw materials
12.4.1 Bioethanol from cellulose
12.4.2 Bioethanol from hemicellulose
12.5 Biobutanol
12.6 Biobutanol 2G
12.7 Inhibitory compounds: A drawback for bioethanol and biobutanol production from lignocellulosic biomass
12.7.1 Weak acids
12.7.2 Furans
12.7.3 Phenolic compounds
12.7.4 Reduction of inhibitory effects
12.8 CBP
12.9 Case study
12.10 Summary
References
Chapter Thirteen Hybrid technologies
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgments
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Hybridization typologies
13.3 Anaerobic digestion and biomass gasification
13.4 Pyrolysis integrated with anaerobic process
13.5 Syngas fermentation
13.6 Biodiesel fermentation
13.7 Case study of maize-based biodigestion and gasification
13.8 Summary
Chapter Fourteen Biorefineries as a tool in energy matrix transition
Abstract
Keywords
14.1 Introduction
14.2 The concept of biorefining
14.3 Biorefineries in circular economy (CE)
14.4 Biorefinery classifications
14.5 Biorefinery portfolio
14.6 Biorefinery configurations: Main indicators and parametric optimization
14.6.1 Feedstock
14.6.2 Product specification
14.6.3 Heat requirements
14.6.4 Life cycle analyses
14.6.5 Conversion route
14.6.6 Optimizing process parameters
14.6.7 Waste biorefineries
14.6.8 Lignocellulosic biorefinery
14.6.9 Algae biorefinery
14.7 LCA in biorefineries: Energy and environmental indicators
14.8 Economic and sustainability assessment considerations
14.9 Case studies
14.9.1 Sugarcane biorefinery
14.9.2 Palm oil biorefinery
References
Chapter Fifteen Biofuels in internal combustion engines: Performance and emissions
Abstract
Keywords
15.1 Overview of biofuels in the transport sector
15.1.1 Role of internal combustion engines in transportation
15.1.2 Classification of renewable fuels
15.1.3 Overview of biofuels
15.2 Biofuel properties for internal combustion engines
15.2.1 Fuel quality specifications
15.2.2 Octane number
15.2.3 Cetane number
15.2.4 Distillation characteristics
15.2.5 Density
15.2.6 Viscosity
15.2.7 Sulfur
15.2.8 Heating value
15.2.9 Cold flow properties
15.3 Biofuels in spark ignition engines: Performance and emissions
15.4 Biofuels in compression ignition engines: Performance and emissions
15.5 Biofuels in advanced engine technologies: Performance and emissions
15.6 LCA of passenger cars powered by biofuels
15.7 Case study
15.7.1 Scenarios
15.7.2 System boundaries
15.7.3 Life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis
15.7.4 Results
References
Chapter Sixteen Aviation fuels, vegetable oil hydrotreating, and drop-in fuels
Abstract
Keywords
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Biofuels in aviation: Demand and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
16.3 Aviation fuels biomass feedstock and platforms
16.3.1 Emerging technologies for SAF production
16.3.2 Hydrogen production and its relevance in the production of SAF
16.4 Hydrotreating of vegetable oils: HVO
16.5 Technological maturity of the considered platforms
16.6 Biofuels from microalgae
16.7 LCA for biojet production
16.8 Case study
References
Chapter Seventeen Hydrogen production through biomass gasification
Abstract
Keywords
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Flowchart of hydrogen production from biomass
17.3 Thermochemical processes for H2 Production: Steam gasification, supercritical gasification, fast pyrolysis, plasma
17.4 Biomass feedstocks, gasification fluids, and gasifier types
17.5 Catalysts and operation parameters for H2 production by gasification
17.6 Hydrogen purification technologies
17.7 LCA of H2 production from biomass and hydrogen production costs
17.7.1 Comparative life cycle assessment: Biomass gasification, coal gasification, electrolysis, and natural gas reforming
17.8 Hydrogen separation technologies
17.9 Case study: Biomass gasification plants around the world, scale, and placement
17.10 Summary
References
Chapter Eighteen Electricity generation from biomass
Abstract
Keywords
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Main technologies for electric generation from biomass
18.2.1 Performance and power range
18.3 Biomass generation technologies maturity
18.3.1 Established technologies
18.3.2 Intermediate maturity technologies
18.3.3 Emerging technologies
18.3.4 Novel concepts and future directions
18.4 Negative carbon technologies
18.4.1 Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
18.5 Methodology for technology selection and power/efficiency calculations
18.5.1 Multicriteria Decision Analysis
18.5.2 Life cycle assessment
18.5.3 Techno-economic Analysis
18.5.4 Power and efficiency calculations
18.5.5 Integration of economic, environmental, and performance variables
18.6 Pretreatment
18.6.1 Physical pretreatment methods
18.6.2 Chemical pretreatment methods
18.6.3 Biological pretreatment methods
18.7 Levelized cost of electricity
18.7.1 Capital costs
18.7.2 Operation and maintenance costs
18.7.3 Fuel costs
18.7.4 Financing and economic assumptions
18.7.5 Environmental and regulatory factors
18.8 LCA of electricity generation from biomass
18.8.1 Biomass collection and processing
18.8.2 Transportation
18.8.3 Conversion to electricity
18.8.4 Waste treatment and disposal
18.9 Biomass logistics
18.9.1 GIS applications for biomass logistics
18.9.2 Logistics of transportation and storage
18.10 Case study
18.10.1 Methodology of the case study
18.10.2 Results and findings of the case study
18.11 Summary
References
Chapter Nineteen Waste to energy
Abstract
Keywords
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Waste generation: General aspects
19.2.1 MSW: Composition and characteristics
19.2.2 MSW management
19.3 WtE technologies
19.4 Economic costs
19.5 Emission control in incinerators
19.6 Methane leaks in landfills
19.7 Gasification of MSW: A challenge
19.7.1 Technical challenges
19.7.2 Environmental challenges
19.7.3 Economic performance challenge
19.8 Pyrolysis of MSW: A challenge
19.8.1 Challenges for the implementation of MSW pyrolysis
19.9 Life cycle assessment (LCA) of WtE technologies
19.10 Case study
19.11 Summary
References
Chapter Twenty Policy, regulatory issues, and case studies of full-scale projects
Abstract
Keywords
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Challenges in bioenergy projects: Success and failures
20.2.1 Operational challenges
20.2.2 Economic challenges
20.2.3 Social challenges
20.2.4 Policy and regulatory challenges
20.2.5 Problems of biomass large-scale supply
20.3 Socioeconomic aspects of bioenergy
20.4 Bioenergy in Brazil: Development and prospects
20.4.1 Technological perspectives of bioenergy in Brazil
20.4.2 Perspectives of the bioenergy market
20.4.3 E-fuels
20.4.4 Hydrogen
20.4.5 Biogas and biomethane
20.4.6 Bioelectricity
20.4.7 Closing remarks
20.5 India’s Energy Security—Biofuels a major contributor. Harnessing the agriculture residues, organic waste stream and innovative energy crops
20.5.1 Growing ethanol supplies
20.6 Integrated gasification-power plant operating in the sawmill industry: Cuba
20.7 Case study of a successful biodigestion and biomethane plant: Biodigestion plant of the University of Sao Paulo
20.7.1 Introduction
20.7.2 Diagnosis of campus waste management
20.7.3 Laboratory-scale assessment and assays
20.7.4 Process design and plant implementation
20.7.5 Mass and energy balances for current and licensed configurations
20.7.6 Operational results and performance analysis
20.8 Case study of successful biorefineries
20.9 Biodiesel company: Grupo Potencial
20.9.1 The future of biodiesel
20.9.2 Legacy and history
20.9.3 Fuel of tomorrow: An overview
20.9.4 The role of sustainability
20.10 Case study of SAF production routes
20.10.1 Conversion pathways
20.10.2 Lipid platform (HEFA)
20.10.3 Sugar/alcohol platform
20.10.4 Pyrolysis platform
20.10.5 Syngas platform
20.10.6 Technoeconomic analysis of SAF production technologies
20.11 SUSTEPS project: Sustainable, secure, and competitive energy through scaling up advanced biofuel generation
20.11.1 Introduction
20.11.2 SUSTEPS consortium
20.11.3 Background and challenges
20.11.4 SUSTEPS solutions beyond the state of the art
20.11.5 Acknowledgment
20.12 Sustainable poultry farming: Energy recycling of residual biomass cases
20.12.1 Introduction
20.12.2 Results and discussion
20.12.3 Closure
20.13 Conclusions
References
Index

Electo silva lora

He holds a B.Sc. degree in Thermal Power Plants from Odessa Polytechnic University (1981) in Ukraine, a M.Sc. degree in Thermal Power Plants – from the same institution and a Ph.D. degree in Steam Generators and Reactors Design from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (1988) in Russia. In 2014 he did a Visiting Professor internship at Washington State University with a Fulbright /CAPES Visiting Scholar scholarship. He is currently a full professor at the Federal University of Itajubá and Coordinator of the Center for Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation - NEST. He has experience in the field of Mechanical Engineering, with emphasis on Thermoelectric Generation, working mainly on the following topics: thermochemical conversion of biomass, cogeneration, solar thermal, thermoelectric power plants, thermoelectric generation and life cycle assessment - LCA. He has 151 articles in journals, 15 books and advised 27 doctoral theses and 66 master's theses.

Affiliations and expertise

CNPq Researcher 1B, Federal University of Itajubá/Brazil, Brazil

Manuel Garcia-Perez

Manuel Garcia-Perez got his BSc in Chemical Engineering and his first master in Process Engineering from the Oriente’s University in Cuba. He got his MSc and his PhD from Laval University in Quebec, Canada. After completing his PhD he did two post-doctoral assignments at the University of Georgia in US and at Monash University in Australia. He is currently a full professor and chair of the Biological Systems Engineering department at Washington State University. Dr. Garcia-Perez is associate editor of Biomass and Bioenergy, and reviewer editor of the Journal of Analytical and Applied pyrolysis. He also served for six years at the USDA-DOE Biomass research and development technical advisory committee. Dr. Garcia-Perez has made contributions to advance our understanding of biomass thermochemical reactions, the chemistry of pyrolysis-oils and carbonaceous materials. So far, he has published more than 160 peer reviewed publications.

Affiliations and expertise

Department Chair and Professor, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

Osvaldo josé venturini

Prof. Osvaldo J. Venturini graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Itajuba – UNIFEI (Brazil), in 1993, and received his Ph.D. degree from UNIFEI in the field of Energy Conversion. Currently is Full Professor of Thermal Science at UNIFEI, where he has been developing research activities and coordinating projects in areas related to alternative energy sources; modeling and optimization of thermal systems; hybrid biomass-solar systems; LCA; biomass carbonization, waste valorization, oil sludge gasification; sewage sludge drying and gasification, etc. He has published 48 papers in journals, 03 books, 23 chapters in books, supervised 10 Ph.D. and 30 master's theses. Since, 2017 Prof. Osvaldo has been acting as the president of the Support Foundation for Teaching, Research and Development of Itajubá. (FAPEPE). He also is a Productivity Fellow of the Brazilian National Research Council – CNPq

Affiliations and expertise

CNPq Researcher 1B Federal University of Itajubá/Brazil, Brazil

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From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy

Current Status and Challenges

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Electo silva lora

Manuel Garcia-Perez

Osvaldo josé venturini

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