Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
manufacture of coke. Used as a solvent in the manufacture of detergents,
synthetic fibers, and petrochemicals and as a component of high-octane
gasoline.
Bilateral agreement:
A written agreement signed by two parties that specifies the
terms for exchanging energy.
Binary cycle:
Binary geothermal systems use extracted hot water or steam to heat a
secondary fluid to drive the power turbine.
Biobased product:
As defined by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
(FSRIA), it is a product determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is
composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products or renew-
able domestic agriculture materials (including plant, animal, and marine
materials) or forestry materials.
Biochemical conversion:
The use of fermentation or anaerobic digestion to produce
fuels and chemicals from organic sources.
Biodiesel:
Fuel derived from vegetable oils or animals fats. It is produced when a
vegetable oil or animal fat is chemically reacted with an alcohol.
Biodiversity conservation:
The goal of conservation biology, which is to retain
indefinitely as much of the Earth's biodiversity as possible, with an empha-
sis on biotic elements most vulnerable to human impacts.
Bioenergy:
Useful, renewable energy produced from organic matter, which may be
either used directly as a fuel or processed into liquids and gases.
Biofuels:
Liquid fuels and blending components produced from biomass (plant)
feedstocks; used primarily for transportation.
Biogas:
A combustible gas derived from decomposing biological waste. Biogas nor-
mally consists of 50 to 60% methane.
Biogenic:
Produced by biological processes of living organisms.
Biogenic emissions:
Emissions that are naturally occurring and are not significantly
affected by human actions or activity.
Biological diversity or biodiversity:
The variety of life and its processes, including
the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and
the communities and ecosystems in which they occur.
Biological integrity:
Biotic composition, structure, and functioning at the genetic,
organism, and community levels comparable with historic conditions,
including the natural biological processes that shape genomes, organisms,
and communities.
Biomass:
Any organic non-fossil material of biological origin constituting a renewable
energy source. Produced from organic matter that is available on a renewable
or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood
residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, animal manure, munici-
pal residues, and other residue materials. Biomass is generally produced in
a sustainable manner from water and carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. The
three main categories of biomass are primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Biomass-based diesel fuel:
Biodiesel and other renewable diesel fuel or diesel fuel
blending components derived from biomass, but excluding renewable diesel
fuel coprocessed with petroleum feedstock.
