The Carbon Cycle
Biomass is organic material that uses energy
from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and
water into carbohydrates in a process called
photosynthesis. The photosynthesis process can
express in a chemical reaction as
[ Sunlight + 6CO2 + H2O= 6O2 + C6H12O6]
The carbon cycle is the process of circulating
carbon in the biosphere. Carbon moves into the
atmosphere from several sources. Some major
sources are:
 Natural events
 Respiration of living organisms, which
includes cellular respiration
 Man-made sources from burning fuels
The ocean is part of the carbon reservoir and
exchanges CO2 with the atmosphere, however
much more is absorbed by the oceans than is
released. This has resulted in increases in
acidification of the world’s oceans and is doing
serious damage to corals and shellfish as well as
the lowest level of the food chain.
Bioenergy cycle
Biomass Sources
Biomass feedstock is any raw material used to
create an energy product. Principle sources are:
 Forest Biomass:
 Agricultural biomass:
 Trash biomass:
 Sewage biomass: waste water
treatment plants
 Animal biomass: slaughterhouses
 Industrial biomass: wood residue and
pulp
Biomass energy processes include:
1. Combustion: Burning for heat or steam
2. Co-firing: Adding biomass to coal to
reduce its amount
3. Thermal conversion:
• Gasification
• Pyrolysis (charcoal)
• Torre faction (briquettes or pellets)
• Chemical conversion
Biofuels: ETHANOL
Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is made by
fermentation of sugar derived from various
plants, mainly grain crops like corn. Ethanol
yield is measured by the fossil fuel replacement
ratio. Dry milling process:
Biofuels: DIESEL & GREEN FUELS
Biodiesel process:
1. Acid Esterification: For feedstocks with
more than 4% free fatty acids
2. Transesterification: For feedstocks with
less than 4% free fatty acids
3. Neutralization: neutralizes acid used in
previous processes
4. Phase separation: separates biodiesel
and glycerin
5. Refining and methanol recovery:
methanol removed, and biodiesel
purified
Biofuels: ALGAE
Algae are aquatic organisms that use
photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and
sunlight into stored energy. Algae can be used
to make various biofuels. Factors affecting
growth rates are:
• Nutrient quantity and quality
• Light
• pH
• Aeration and Mixing
• Temperature
• Type of algae
Algae can also be cultivated in a
photobioreactor (PBR), which is a bioreactor
that incorporates a light source. The PBR
process is:
Biogas energy system
Biogas is a lean gas that can be used like other
fuel gas for household and industrial purposes
ADVANTAGES:
 Biomass is a renewable resource and is
readily available
 Use of biomass as fuel reduces the
dependence on fossil fuels
 Adds secondary value to agricultural
crop
 Growing biomass crops produce oxygen
and consume carbon dioxide
DISADVANTAGES:
 Energy comes mainly from plants which
must be harvested
 Land used to grow biomass materials is
needed for other uses
 Biomass crops can deplete soil of
nutrients
 Burning plants releases carbon dioxide
 Bi products of biomass contain less
energy per gallon than gasoline
 Research needed to make more cost
efficient
Anaerobic digestion:
Types of Digesters:
Batch digester: Waste is digested in batches,
and remaining material is removed after 10-20
days.
Continuous digester: Waste is digested
continuously in a process that allows new waste
to replace digested waste.
Landfills:
A landfill is a structure in which trash is isolated
from the environment. They are a major source
of methane gas through anaerobic digestion.