Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A biomass gasiication plant in Hawaii.
carbon dioxide out during the
gasiication process and storing
it where it will not do any harm.
Biomass Gasiication
The renewable energy resource
biomass
also can be used in a
gasiication process to produce
hydrogen fuel. Biomass includes
organic materials such as wheat
straw, animal wastes, forest
residues, and special crops
like switchgrass or willow trees
that are grown to be used as
energy sources.
The actual gasiication process is similar to that used for
coal. One difference is that biomass is more dificult to gasify
than coal. It also produces extra waste gases such as carbon
dioxide that must be removed. One main beneit, though, is
that biomass, unlike coal, will never run out. Another beneit is
that many sources of biomass materials are plants. Plants take
carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere (during the process of
photosynthesis
) as they grow. This makes up a great deal for
the carbon dioxide and other gases that are released into the
atmosphere during gasiication. In fact, the amount of carbon
dioxide taken out of the atmosphere almost equals the amount
that is released.
