BIOMASSThe Greener way to save Green

Kieran Flanneryand

Nicole Palley

What is Biomass?Biomass is the use of organic material for energy that can be used for almost anything.

How Does it Work?Biomass uses renewable resources as a way to attain usable materials that can supplement,

if not totally replace all the nonrenewable resources.

The main sources of fuel are:

• Wood

• Corn

• Waste

• Biochar

Using Corn?Corn can be used in multiple ways, such as Ethanol, Dihydrogen (H2 fuel), and Biogas

Ethenol-

• Is the type alcohol found in most alcohol beverages

• is a fuel source that can be used with or in place of gasoline.

• Is made by either by dry milling or wet millingDry milling soaks the corn kernels in water, then adds enzymes to convert the starch into

a simple sugar (dextrose). Then yeast is added to convert the sugar into ethanol

Wet milling utilizes the corn by soaking the kernel in water in order to separate corn

syrup from the rest of the corn plant.

H2Dihydrogen

Dihydrogen (H2)• Is harvested by chopping down the entire plant, fermenting it, and adding a few

volts of electricity, • Can be used to replace gasoline as a much greener energy source.

WasteWaste is produce usually after the desired resource is extracted and

the undesired left overs are dumped.

Most of the waste produced by industry can be reused and incinerated instead of

filling a landfill .

Waste energy is absorbing the heat and electricity through the incinerating of

trash and waste.

Methane, which is produced in and animal and human waste, can be used to make electricity.

Wood EnergyWood energy can be used the most easy to use because its easy

to easy to find, easy to extract, and easy to exploit.

It is the most common form of biomass, and through incineration, produces heat which can power steam turbines or other heat

reliant energy producers

BiocharA relatively new form of biomass involving the use of pyrolysis (heating to high temperatures without the presence of oxygen) which can be used for

a great multitude of things, such as soil repair, trapping greenhouse gasses, and energy production.

Energy production is possible because it can actually replace gasoline with biodeisel which is a byproduct of producing biochar.

Biomass produces more carbon monoxide than natural gas or coal

Negatives of Biomass

Wood contributes 50% of its weight to carbon dioxide, which is all released into the atmosphere after incinerating it.

Creates a small amount of air pollution to produce the desired product

It is much more difficult to mass produce due to the cumbersome nature of the fuel source

Efficiency and Cost

Only makes up 1.5% of America’s energy

It costs between 5.7 cents per kilowatt to produce depending on the availability of the resource in that area.