GASIFICATION

1
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
Process
1)Feedstocks 2)Pretreatment 3) Qualifications
1) Intermediate 2) Main 3) By-products
The inhomogeneous biomass waste is converted into
a homogenous gas with a considerably higher level
of applicability The product gas may, without
any cleaning, be used for gas-fired steam boilers
combined with steam turbines or for increased
steam superheating (and consequently higher power
efficiency) at e.g. municipal solid waste energy
plants. The product gas may, after a modest
clean-up, be burned using low NOx gas burner
technology in connection with indirectly fired
power technologies (such as indirectly fired gas
turbines and Stirling engines) with efficiencies
exceeding 28. After adequate clean-up the
product gas may even be used for direct firing of
gas turbines and gas engines (with a potential
efficiency exceeding 32), and in the future also
for powering fuel cells (with efficiencies
exceeding 40). Integrated
Gasification Combined Cycles can be arranged,
producing Electricity, Ammonia, Oil, Methane and
Hydrogen for fuel cells
Gasification is in widespread use throughout most
of the world. The technology ranges from fully
commercialized for certain feedstocks and
technologies to scientific exploration for other
feedstocks and more advanced technologies. The
simplest -- the gasification of wood chips
producing a gas that is combusted to generate
heat -- a wood or a wood pellet stove, for
example. The next step is to use the gas to
produce steam to power a turbine. Then use the
gas to power an internal combustion engine to
produce electricity and thermal energy. Next,
produce a synthetic gas taken through a catalytic
process to produce an alcohol, a biofuel,
hydrogen or other gases. Then take the produced
syngas through a fermentation proves to produce
ethanol or other alcohols.
The principle factor is the sustainability of the
feedstocks. Gasifiers can have an enormous
appetite for biomass of all types. Consequently,
it is imperative that all environmental factors
-- soil and soil organisms, water quality and
quantity, wildlife and their habitat, wetlands
and watersheds are well protected --even
enhanced. There also emissions from the
gasification process and the combustion or other
use of the gases. All of these concerns can be
dealt with in an economic manner. If there are
heavy metals mixed with the biomass this could
represent significant problems.
The inherent difficulty in optimizing the
benefits for local people is the economies of
scale. A shift in focus to the economies of
integration and value offers promise. The focus
should be on cascading every Btu, kilowatt, drop
of water, nutrient, chemical and human talent
through the system to save money, produce
co-products and optimize the productivity and
satisfaction of the workers. There are also
opportunities in the formation of farmer/worker
coops to own and operate the facility. There
could be a focus on keeping the value-added
benefits in the rural community and in
strengthening the community while gaining the
multiplier of benefits by turning money over
within the community. It is necessary to develop
gasification technologies that will encourage
economies of integration and value in order to
ensure the competitiveness of such systems with
economies of scale facilities. Government policy,
regulations and incentives may be necessary for
small facilities to compete. However, this could
well be justified in terms of overall benefits to
society.

• Any Organic Material
• Examples Ag wastes, hazardous organic wastes,
  industrial wastes.
• Pretreatment Waste typically segregated.
• Qualifications Dry MSW is favorable. Coal size
  distribution must be controlled to ensure good
  bed permeability.
• Final Conversion Technology (Optional)
  Fischer-Tropsch Catalytic Conversion

• Intermediate Products Combustible gases,
  liquids, tars, and inert fluidizing gases.
• Main Products Electricity, Thermal Energy,
  Hydrogen, Ethanol and other alcohols, Diesel type
  fuels, Gasoline.
• By-products Charcoal, Ash, Carbon Dioxide.

GASIFICATION
THERMOMOCHEMICAL




Ablative Fast Pyrolysis

• Any Organic Material
• Pretreatment Sorting.
• Qualifications None

Fast Pyrolysis
Cyclonic Fast Pyrolysis
By using waste streams and fully sustainable
biomass, there are many environmental benefits
including greenhouse gas stabilization
Pilot Project Cashton Greens Energy Park,
Cashton, WI. Demonstration Project BEST
Australia. Limited commercialization
Dynamotive, Canada
Properly structured, this technology provides
waste collecting jobs for low-income people and
opportunities for skilled technicians. This
benefits communities through waste clean up
(public health benefits), the use of local
feedstocks and by providing decentralized power
and fuels as well as charcoal to increase soil
fertility and organic matter levels.
Generally a simple, low-cost technology capable
of processing a wide variety of feedstocks
producing gases, a bio-oil, bio-chemicals and
charcoal. A promising approach is the production
of a bio-oil t hat can be used to power ethanol,
biodiesel or other local industries facilities,
and a charcoal. The charcoal is incorporated into
the soil to promote its fertility and organic
matter through synergistic processes between the
soil, soil organisms, the roots of the plants,
water and the CO2 and Nitrogen in the atmosphere

• Intermediate products Syngas and Charcoal
• Products Bio-Oil and Charcoal
• By-products Electricity and Thermal Energy

Rotating Core Fast Pyrolysis
PYROLYSIS

• Any Organic Material
• Pretreatment Sorting.
• Qualifications Waste must be pre-sorted and
  processed to lt6 mm (1 to 2 mm. preferred) and
  lt10 moisture content to assure high heat
  transfer rate.

Vacuum Pyrolysis
Slow Pyrolysis
Flash Pyrolysis

1. New wealth industries New wealth in a
society can only be generated by new wealth
industries based on the development of natural
resources Mining oil, gas, coal, oil shale,
tar sands, metals, minerals, etc. Agriculture
Silvaculture forestry and wood lot operations
Aquaculture fishing Renewable energy
technologies solar, wind, biomass, geothermal,
hydropower (including current, tidal and wave
energy) and renewable hydrogen Recovered and
recycled materials Human creativity All
activities generating enterprise and wealth are
derived from these basic resources. Crucially
for this energy-oriented activity, note that
energy efficiency, rooted in human creativity, is
the foundation of a sound energy policy. It is
also important to understand that new wealth
industries generate a powerful multiplier effect
as the new wealth moves from its source through
the marketplace. This value is further
multiplied when ownership and value-added
benefits accrue to those converting new wealth
resources into marketable products, as well as to
the communities where the conversions occur. The
mining of resources is facing difficulty, as
these resources are being depleted and skillful
utilization of more sustainable, new wealth
resources steadily increase 2. "The economies of
scale versus the economies of integration and
value" Routinely the economies of scale lead to
large scale operations where profitability is the
commanding factor. But there are three other
considerations The economies of integration,
where every Btu of energy, every Kw of power,
every nutrient, and every human talent is
cascaded through the facility until it reaches a
point of minimal influence. The exception in
diminishing influence is the human talent that
continually gains value as new skills and
interests accumulate. The economies of value,
first to the workers who gain satisfaction, value
to the facility, and more income for both. This
occurs as the person cascades through and up the
hierarchy. The economies of scale generally lead
to compartmentalization obviating this value.
Where economies of integration and value occur,
the family and the community gain as the
value-added benefits multiply. This strengthens
the individual, the family, the community and the
nation since there is visible, meaningful and
felt interconnectivity between natural processes
and the human endeavor. 3. "The benefits that
accrue to a nation and its people when there are
committed actions to the preservation and
protection of Gods creation".
Entrained Flow Fast Pyrolysis
The current fuel ethanol industry was launched in
the US in 1979 with small on-farm plants and in
educational institutions. They were very small
and inefficient. On average, the efficiency of
the plants has increased about 2 per year and
the average size today is about 50 million
gal/yr. The fossil energy in, to renewable
energy out is now about 1 to 1.6 and steadily
improving. With innovations being commercialized,
that ratio will soon be well over 21. Within 2
years it should be 31 and within four years it
should be possible to incorporate cellulosic
feedstocks into standard corn to ethanol plants.
In the US, it is now anticipated that a capacity
of 15 billion gal/yr from corn, milo, sugar cane
and other starch and sugar crops is possible
without interfering with the food/feed supply. As
long as the price of oil remains over 50/bbl and
corn under 3/bushel, with todays incentives,
the ethanol industry will continue to grow and
prosper.
Fluid Bed Fast Pyrolysis

• There are critical factors in the advance of the
  ethanol industry using starch and sugar crops as
  feedstocks. The industry must ensure the
  environmental community and the public in general
  that, as the industry further matures, it will
  ensure the protection and enhancement of
• organic matter in the soils, Soil organisms,
• Water quality and quantity,
• Wildlife and their habitat,
• Wetlands,
• Watersheds,
• Rural communities, through ownership in
  biorefineries and appropriately keeping the
  value-added benefits in the farm community

• Grains
• Mostly Corn
• Pretreatment Wet-mill fermentation
• Qualifications Grain processing

• Intermediate Products Mash, Sugar
• Main Products Ethanol
• By-products Distillers Grains plus solubles,
  Carbon Dioxide

Circulating Fluid Bed Transported Bed
This process is more versatile than dry mill
fermentation, because of the products it yields.
Wet-Mill Fermentation
Slow Pyrolysis
Slow Pyrolysis
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
Grain Biomass
Aerobic Digestion
2-Stage

• Sugars, Starches, and other Biomass
• Examples Grains (corn, sorghum, barley), Sugars
  (Sugarcane and beets), Beer, and other sugars and
  starches.
• Pretreatment Dry-mill fermentation
• Qualifications Grain processing

• Intermediate Products Starch, Sugar
• Main Products Ethanol
• By-products Corn oil, corn gluten meal, corn
  gluten feed, carbon dioxide, liquid
  bio-fertilizers

Dry-Mill Fermentation
This process is not as expensive as wet mill.
Biodiesel has slightly lower energy content than
fossil diesel. It has a higher cetane value, is
essentially free of contaminates like sulfur and
aromatics, and burns cleaner than diesel fuel. It
significantly reduces smoke, unburned
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. It does,
however, slightly increase oxides of nitrogen.
The level of these reductions is a function of
the blend levels. B-5 is acceptable by most
engine manufactures. B-20 by a few, and, in the
US, essentially none at B-100. B-2, used to
decrease emissions and improve lubricity, is
becoming increasingly attractive. The
production of biodiesel is relatively easy and
there is no need for significant infrastructure
changes to gain full access to the market. Its
capacity is more limited than ethanol because of
feedstock availability and does not have be
ability to use most biomass waste streams and
cellulosic and woody biomass. However, those
feedstocks can be converted to a diesel type
fuel, like Sun Diesel in Germany. In the US,
biodiesel is defined by law as a mono ester of a
long chain fatty acid. This requires a
transesterfication process.
These factors are similar to those covered in the
ethanol section. There are fuel versus food and
feed factors as well as the potential of
environmental degradation. These are all
manageable if proper procedures are followed and
research, development and deployment are
aggressively pursued in advancing technologies
that will enhance the environment and provide
opportunities for low-income people throughout
the world.
There are major opportunities to improve the well
being of farmers and ranchers and low-income
rural citizens throughout the world. This will
occur by having access to locally produced fuels,
through job creation, and opportunities for
ownership in production facilities. Energy and
economic security factors are also improved.

• Oils, fats, used cooking oils, greases, methanol
  or ethanol and a catalyst
• (generally sodium hydroxide or potassium
  hydroxide an acid catalyst is used to for
  pretreatment see pretreatment)
• Pretreatment Used cooking oils, yellow greases
  and some tree oils are taken through a
  esterification process to remove fatty acid which
  should, preferably, be reduced to less than 1
  (at least below 4). In the esterification
  process, the methanol or ethanol/acid catalyst is
  used to reduce the fatty acids. Dewatering is
  required as part of this process.
• Qualifications Essentially any biomass based
  oil, animal fat or tallow, used cooking oil,
  yellow/trap grease, plant or tree oil can be
  converted into biodiesel if the fatty acid
  content is low enough. If not, if must be
  pretreated.

• Intermediate Products Oils fats or greases taken
  through transesterfication
• Main Products Biodiesel
• By-products Glycerin, Soaps

Biodiesel is fully commercialized world wide.
Transesterification
Transesterification
Biodiesel Production
BIOMOCHEMICAL
Anaerobic digesters are fully commercialized
throughout the world. However, the technology is
constantly being upgraded and improvements are
impressive. They range in size from mammoth
wastewater treatment plants to single family
units in the developing nations, In agriculture
operations, there are generally two approaches
1) Dairy farmer or other animal feeding operators
owning and operating the digester and engine
generator set, marketing the electricity to the
grid and using the thermal energy and digestate.
2) The farmer owns the animals, a separate
business owns and operates the digester and
engine generator set, farmer is paid for the
manure and buys the electricity and thermal as
needed. In some cases the farmer also owns the
digester and the digestate. Another option is to
use the gas from the digestate only for thermal
use or to simply flare the gas. In these cases
the purpose is to process the manure to benefit
the environment.
Almost any organic material paper, grass
clippings, leftover food, sewages, animal wastes
and other forms of biomass like distillers
grains. Pretreatment Sorting or screening to
remove inorganic material. Qualifications The
material may need to be pre-processed and water
added.
If properly constructed and operated, anaerobic
digesters can make major contributions to the
environment while reducing greenhouse gases. The
methane is produced in the digester and the gas
beneficially used instead of the manure
decomposing and releasing gases to the
atmosphere. Additionally, manure and urine give
off bad odors and harbor troublesome pathogens.
Manure is costly to spread and can contaminate
the soil, and concentrate minerals in excessive
amounts. These problems are solved by the
digester, The liquid fraction of the digestate
can be safely applied to soils at opportune
times. The solid fraction can be used as bedding
for the cows or used an organic fertilizer.
Mesophilic Process
Anaerobic activated sludge process Anaerobic
clarigester Anaerobic contact process Anaerobic
expanded-bed reactor Anaerobic filter Anaerobic
fluidized bed Anaerobic lagoon Anaerobic
migrating blanket reactor AMBR Batch system
anaerobic digester Expanded granular sludge bed
digestion EGSB Hybrid reactor Imhoff tank
One-stage anaerobic digester Submerged media
anaerobic reactor SMARs Two-stage anaerobic
digester Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket
digestion UASB Upflow and down-flow anaerobic
attached growth
The societal impact should be very positive if
thoughtful practices and good science/engineering
practices are followed throughout the process. In
some developing countries, digesters are being
made available at very low costs, permitting a
family to produce enough gas to cook all meals by
using human and animate waste and whatever other
organic material is readily available. This also
helps clean and sanitize the area while providing
a valuable soil amendment for improved gardening.
Continued engineering advances are needed to
increase the effectiveness of small-scale
digesters while keeping the price affordable for
poor people.
Mesophilic digestion costs and energy
requirements are not as expensive as Thermofilic.
This process is also more stable than thermofilic
digestion. Electricity produced by anaerobic
digesters is considered to be green energy and
may attract subsidies such as Renewable Energy
Certificates.
ANAEROBIC DIGESTORS

• Intermediate products NA.
• Products Biogas, Thermal Energy, Digestate.
• By-products Liquid and Solid Bio-fertilizers.

Thermofilic Process

• Organic Wastes
• Pretreatment Sorting pre-treatment
• Qualifications The waste must be contained,
  compacted and covered in a vessel

Bioreactor Vessel
Bioreactor Vessel

• Intermediate products Biogas composed of
  Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Hydrogen,
  Hydrogen Sulfide and Oxygen.
• Products Electricity, thermal energy, methane.
• By-products Carbon Dioxide for possible use in
  greenhouse operations, and Biofertilizers.

LANDFILL
Fully sustainable as long as humans produce waste
that would go to landfills or bioreactors. The
key factor is the sustainability of the biomass
used in producing materials ending up in
landfills. There are major environmental benefits
from preventing the release of biogas generated
in landfills to the atmosphere.
Added renewable energy to the nations energy
mix. Cleaner environment if landfills are
properly maintained. Availability of
decentralized energy, both electric and thermal,
to the community. This would be of considerable
value in the event of a regional or local energy
emergency

• In the case of bioreactors, reduced material in
  landfills.
• Reduced release of methane and other gases to the
  atmosphere and the beneficial use of these gases.
  
• Significant greenhouse gas stabilization benefits.

Fully commercialized worldwide

• Organic Wastes
• Pretreatment None
• Qualifications None

Landfill Site
Landfill Site

• Practically any Organic Waste
• Pretreatment Sorting
• Qualifications a separation between organic and
  contaminants is necessary

Static Pile
AEROBIC

• Intermediate products None
• Products Valuable Compost
• By-products Heat and Carbon Dioxide. (May be
  useful in a greenhouse environment or for heating)

Enclosed Compost (bldg. or other container)
Compost
Improves social quality through simple processes
available to homeowners and farmers alike.
Reduces need for chemical fertilizers. Can be
low cost.
Fully commercialized worldwide. Wide range of
technologies.
Turned windrow

• Process and convert waste organic materials into
  organic fertilizers containing the nutrients and
  minerals that were in the original waste.

Fully sustainable because organic matter is being
recycled, improving overall environment.
In-vessel compost
2
Gasification
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products

• Any Organic Material
• Examples Ag wastes, hazardous organic wastes,
  industrial wastes.
• Pretreatment Waste typically segregated.
• Qualifications Dry MSW is favorable. Coal size
  distribution must be controlled to ensure good
  bed permeability.
• Final Conversion Technology (Optional)
  Fischer-Tropsch Catalytic Conversion

• Intermediate Products Combustible gases,
  liquids, tars, and inert fluidizing gases.
• Main Products Electricity, Thermal Energy,
  Hydrogen, Ethanol and other alcohols, Diesel type
  fuels, Gasoline.
• By-products Charcoal, Ash, Carbon Dioxide.

THERMOMOCHEMICAL
GASIFICATION
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
The inhomogeneous biomass waste is converted into
a homogenous gas with a considerably higher level
of applicability The product gas may, without
any cleaning, be used for gas-fired steam boilers
combined with steam turbines or for increased
steam superheating (and consequently higher power
efficiency) at e.g. municipal solid waste energy
plants. The product gas may, after a modest
clean-up, be burned using low NOx gas burner
technology in connection with indirectly fired
power technologies (such as indirectly fired gas
turbines and Stirling engines) with efficiencies
exceeding 28. After adequate clean-up the
product gas may even be used for direct firing of
gas turbines and gas engines (with a potential
efficiency exceeding 32), and in the future also
for powering fuel cells (with efficiencies
exceeding 40). Integrated
Gasification Combined Cycles can be arranged,
producing Electricity, Ammonia, Oil, Methane and
Hydrogen for fuel cells
Gasification is in widespread use throughout most
of the world. The technology ranges from fully
commercialized for certain feedstocks and
technologies to scientific exploration for other
feedstocks and more advanced technologies. The
simplest -- the gasification of wood chips
producing a gas that is combusted to generate
heat -- a wood or a wood pellet stove, for
example. The next step is to use the gas to
produce steam to power a turbine. Then use the
gas to power an internal combustion engine to
produce electricity and thermal energy. Next,
produce a synthetic gas taken through a catalytic
process to produce an alcohol, a biofuel,
hydrogen or other gases. Then take the produced
syngas through a fermentation proves to produce
ethanol or other alcohols.
The principle factor is the sustainability of the
feedstocks. Gasifiers can have an enormous
appetite for biomass of all types. Consequently,
it is imperative that all environmental factors
-- soil and soil organisms, water quality and
quantity, wildlife and their habitat, wetlands
and watersheds are well protected --even
enhanced. There also emissions from the
gasification process and the combustion or other
use of the gases. All of these concerns can be
dealt with in an economic manner. If there are
heavy metals mixed with the biomass this could
represent significant problems.
The inherent difficulty in optimizing the
benefits for local people is the economies of
scale. A shift in focus to the economies of
integration and value offers promise. The focus
should be on cascading every Btu, kilowatt, drop
of water, nutrient, chemical and human talent
through the system to save money, produce
co-products and optimize the productivity and
satisfaction of the workers. There are also
opportunities in the formation of farmer/worker
coops to own and operate the facility. There
could be a focus on keeping the value-added
benefits in the rural community and in
strengthening the community while gaining the
multiplier of benefits by turning money over
within the community. It is necessary to develop
gasification technologies that will encourage
economies of integration and value in order to
ensure the competitiveness of such systems with
economies of scale facilities. Government policy,
regulations and incentives may be necessary for
small facilities to compete. However, this could
well be justified in terms of overall benefits to
society.
3
Pyrolysis
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products

• Any Organic Material
• Pretreatment Sorting.
• Qualifications None

Vacuum Pyrolysis
Slow Pyrolysis

• Intermediate products Syngas and Charcoal
• Products Bio-Oil and Charcoal
• By-products Electricity and Thermal Energy

Flash Pyrolysis
THERMOMOCHEMICAL

• Any Organic Material
• Pretreatment Sorting.
• Qualifications Waste must be pre-sorted and
  processed to lt6 mm (1 to 2 mm. preferred) and
  lt10 moisture content to assure high heat
  transfer rate.

PYROLYSIS
Open Core fixed bed
Ablative fast Pyrolysis
Fast Pyrolysis
Cyclonic Fast Pyrolysis
Rotating Core Fast Pyrolysis
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
Generally a simple, low-cost technology capable
of processing a wide variety of feedstocks
producing gases, a bio-oil, bio-chemicals and
charcoal. A promising approach is the production
of a bio-oil t hat can be used to power ethanol,
biodiesel or other local industries facilities,
and a charcoal. The charcoal is incorporated into
the soil to promote its fertility and organic
matter through synergistic processes between the
soil, soil organisms, the roots of the plants,
water and the CO2 and Nitrogen in the atmosphere
Pilot Project Cashton Greens Energy Park,
Cashton, WI. Demonstration Project BEST
Australia. Limited commercialization
Dynamotive, Canada
By using waste streams and fully sustainable
biomass, there are many environmental benefits
including greenhouse gas stabilization
Properly structured, this technology provides
waste collecting jobs for low-income people and
opportunities for skilled technicians. This
benefits communities through waste clean up
(public health benefits), the use of local
feedstocks and by providing decentralized power
and fuels as well as charcoal to increase soil
fertility and organic matter levels.
4
Ethanol Production
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products

• Grains
• Mostly Corn
• Pretreatment Wet-mill fermentation
• Qualifications Grain processing

• Intermediate Products Mash, Sugar
• Main Products Ethanol
• By-products Distillers Grains plus solubles,
  Carbon Dioxide

Wet-Mill Fermentation
Wet-Mill Fermentation
BIOCHEMICAL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION

• Sugars, Starches, and other Biomass
• Examples Grains (corn, sorghum, barley), Sugars
  (Sugarcane and beets), Beer, and other sugars and
  starches.
• Pretreatment Dry-mill fermentation
• Qualifications Grain processing

• Intermediate Products Starch, Sugar
• Main Products Ethanol
• By-products Corn oil, corn gluten meal, corn
  gluten feed, carbon dioxide, liquid
  bio-fertilizers

Dry-Mill Fermentation
Dry-Mill Fermentation
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
1. New wealth industries New wealth in a
society can only be generated by new wealth
industries based on the development of natural
resources Mining oil, gas, coal, oil shale,
tar sands, metals, minerals, etc. Agriculture
Silvaculture forestry and wood lot operations
Aquaculture fishing Renewable energy
technologies solar, wind, biomass, geothermal,
hydropower (including current, tidal and wave
energy) and renewable hydrogen Recovered and
recycled materials Human creativity All
activities generating enterprise and wealth are
derived from these basic resources. Crucially
for this energy-oriented activity, note that
energy efficiency, rooted in human creativity, is
the foundation of a sound energy policy. It is
also important to understand that new wealth
industries generate a powerful multiplier effect
as the new wealth moves from its source through
the marketplace. This value is further
multiplied when ownership and value-added
benefits accrue to those converting new wealth
resources into marketable products, as well as to
the communities where the conversions occur. The
mining of resources is facing difficulty, as
these resources are being depleted and skillful
utilization of more sustainable, new wealth
resources steadily increase 2. "The economies of
scale versus the economies of integration and
value" Routinely the economies of scale lead to
large scale operations where profitability is the
commanding factor. But there are three other
considerations The economies of integration,
where every Btu of energy, every Kw of power,
every nutrient, and every human talent is
cascaded through the facility until it reaches a
point of minimal influence. The exception in
diminishing influence is the human talent that
continually gains value as new skills and
interests accumulate. The economies of value,
first to the workers who gain satisfaction, value
to the facility, and more income for both. This
occurs as the person cascades through and up the
hierarchy. The economies of scale generally lead
to compartmentalization obviating this value.
Where economies of integration and value occur,
the family and the community gain as the
value-added benefits multiply. This strengthens
the individual, the family, the community and the
nation since there is visible, meaningful and
felt interconnectivity between natural processes
and the human endeavor. 3. "The benefits that
accrue to a nation and its people when there are
committed actions to the preservation and
protection of Gods creation".
The current fuel ethanol industry was launched in
the US in 1979 with small on-farm plants and in
educational institutions. They were very small
and inefficient. On average, the efficiency of
the plants has increased about 2 per year and
the average size today is about 50 million
gal/yr. The fossil energy in, to renewable
energy out is now about 1 to 1.6 and steadily
improving. With innovations being commercialized,
that ratio will soon be well over 21. Within 2
years it should be 31 and within four years it
should be possible to incorporate cellulosic
feedstocks into standard corn to ethanol plants.
In the US, it is now anticipated that a capacity
of 15 billion gal/yr from corn, milo, sugar cane
and other starch and sugar crops is possible
without interfering with the food/feed supply. As
long as the price of oil remains over 50/bbl and
corn under 3/bushel, with todays incentives,
the ethanol industry will continue to grow and
prosper.

• There are critical factors in the advance of the
  ethanol industry using starch and sugar crops as
  feedstocks. The industry must ensure the
  environmental community and the public in general
  that, as the industry further matures, it will
  ensure the protection and enhancement of
• organic matter in the soils, Soil organisms,
• Water quality and quantity,
• Wildlife and their habitat,
• Wetlands,
• Watersheds,
• Rural communities, through ownership in
  biorefineries and appropriately keeping the
  value-added benefits in the farm community

This Wet Mill Fermentation process is more
versatile than dry mill fermentation, because of
the products it yields.
This Dry Mill Fermentation process is not as
expensive as wet mill.
5
Biodiesel Production
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products

• Oils, fats, used cooking oils, greases, methanol
  or ethanol and a catalyst
• (generally sodium hydroxide or potassium
  hydroxide an acid catalyst is used to for
  pretreatment see pretreatment)
• Pretreatment Used cooking oils, yellow greases
  and some tree oils are taken through a
  esterification process to remove fatty acid which
  should, preferably, be reduced to less than 1
  (at least below 4). In the esterification
  process, the methanol or ethanol/acid catalyst is
  used to reduce the fatty acids. Dewatering is
  required as part of this process.
• Qualifications Essentially any biomass based
  oil, animal fat or tallow, used cooking oil,
  yellow/trap grease, plant or tree oil can be
  converted into biodiesel if the fatty acid
  content is low enough. If not, it must be
  pretreated.

• Intermediate Products Oils fats or greases taken
  through transesterfication
• Main Products Biodiesel
• By-products Glycerin, Soaps

BIOMOCHEMICAL
Transesterification
Transesterification
TRANSESTERIFICATION
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
Biodiesel has slightly lower energy content than
fossil diesel. It has a higher cetane value, is
essentially free of contaminates like sulfur and
aromatics, and burns cleaner than diesel fuel. It
significantly reduces smoke, unburned
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. It does,
however, slightly increase oxides of nitrogen.
The level of these reductions is a function of
the blend levels. B-5 is acceptable by most
engine manufactures. B-20 by a few, and, in the
US, essentially none at B-100. B-2, used to
decrease emissions and improve lubricity, is
becoming increasingly attractive. The
production of biodiesel is relatively easy and
there is no need for significant infrastructure
changes to gain full access to the market. Its
capacity is more limited than ethanol because of
feedstock availability and does not have be
ability to use most biomass waste streams and
cellulosic and woody biomass. However, those
feedstocks can be converted to a diesel type
fuel, like Sun Diesel in Germany. In the US,
biodiesel is defined by law as a mono ester of a
long chain fatty acid. This requires a
transesterfication process.
Biodiesel is fully commercialized world wide.
There are major opportunities to improve the well
being of farmers and ranchers and low-income
rural citizens throughout the world. This will
occur by having access to locally produced fuels,
through job creation, and opportunities for
ownership in production facilities. Energy and
economic security factors are also improved.
These factors are similar to those covered in the
ethanol section. There are fuel versus food and
feed factors as well as the potential of
environmental degradation. These are all
manageable if proper procedures are followed and
research, development and deployment are
aggressively pursued in advancing technologies
that will enhance the environment and provide
opportunities for low-income people throughout
the world.
6
Anaerobic Digesters
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products
Almost any organic material Ex paper, grass
clippings, leftover food, sewages, animal wastes
and other forms of biomass like distillers
grains. Pretreatment Sorting or screening to
remove inorganic material. Qualifications The
material may need to be pre-processed and water
added.

• Intermediate products N/A.
• Products Biogas, Thermal Energy, Digestate.
• By-products Liquid and Solid Bio-fertilizers.

Anaerobic activated sludge process Anaerobic
clarigester Anaerobic contact process Anaerobic
expanded-bed reactor Anaerobic filter Anaerobic
fluidized bed Anaerobic lagoon Anaerobic
migrating blanket reactor AMBR Batch system
anaerobic digester Expanded granular sludge bed
digestion EGSB Hybrid reactor Imhoff tank
One-stage anaerobic digester Submerged media
anaerobic reactor SMARs Two-stage anaerobic
digester Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket
digestion UASB Upflow and down-flow anaerobic
attached growth
Mesophilic Process
BIOMOCHEMICAL
ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS
Thermofilic Process
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
Anaerobic digesters are fully commercialized
throughout the world. However, the technology is
constantly being upgraded and improvements are
impressive. They range in size from mammoth
wastewater treatment plants to single family
units in the developing nations, In agriculture
operations, there are generally two approaches
1) Dairy farmers or other animal feeding
operators owning and operating the digester and
engine generator set, marketing the electricity
to the grid and using the thermal energy and
digestate. 2) The farmer owns the animals, a
separate business owns and operates the digester
and engine generator set, farmer is paid for the
manure and buys the electricity and thermal as
needed. In some cases the farmer also owns the
digester and the digestate. Another option is to
use the gas only for thermal use or to simply
flare the gas. In these cases, the purpose is to
process the manure to benefit the environment.
Mesophilic digestion costs and energy
requirements are not as expensive as Thermofilic.
This process is also more stable than
Thermofilic digestion. Electricity produced by
anaerobic digesters is considered to be green
energy and may attract subsidies such as
Renewable Energy Certificates.
If properly constructed and operated, anaerobic
digesters can make major contributions to the
environment while reducing greenhouse gases. The
methane is produced in the digester and the gas
beneficially used instead of the manure
decomposing and releasing gases to the
atmosphere. Additionally, manure and urine give
off bad odors and harbor troublesome pathogens.
Manure is costly to spread and can contaminate
the soil, and concentrate minerals in excessive
amounts. These problems are solved by the
digester, The liquid fraction of the digestate
can be safely applied to soils at opportune
times. The solid fraction can be used as bedding
for the cows or used an organic fertilizer.
The societal impact should be very positive if
thoughtful practices and good science/engineering
practices are followed throughout the process. In
some developing countries, digesters are being
made available at very low costs, permitting a
family to produce enough gas to cook all meals by
using human and animate waste and whatever other
organic material is readily available. This also
helps clean and sanitize the area while providing
a valuable soil amendment for improved gardening.
Continued engineering advances are needed to
increase the effectiveness of small-scale
digesters while keeping the price affordable for
poor people.
7
Landfill

Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products
Organic Wastes Pretreatment Sorting
pre-treatment Qualifications The waste must be
contained, compacted and covered in a vessel
Intermediate products Biogas composed of
Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Hydrogen,
Hydrogen Sulfide and Oxygen. Products
Electricity, thermal energy, methane. By-products
Carbon Dioxide for possible use in greenhouse
operations, and Biofertilizers.
Bioreactor Vessel
Bioreactor Vessel
BIOMOCHEMICAL
LANDFILL
Organic Wastes Pretreatment None
Qualifications None
Landfill Site
Landfill Site

Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts
In the case of bioreactors, reduced material in
landfills. Reduced release of methane and other
gases to the atmosphere and the beneficial use of
these gases. Significant greenhouse gas
stabilization benefits.
Fully sustainable as long as humans produce waste
that would go to landfills or bioreactors. The
key factor is the sustainability of the biomass
used in producing materials ending up in
landfills. There are major environmental benefits
from preventing the release of biogas generated
in landfills to the atmosphere.
Added renewable energy to the nations energy
mix. Cleaner environment if landfills are
properly maintained. Availability of
decentralized energy, both electric and thermal,
to the community. This would be of considerable
value in the event of a regional or local energy
emergency
Fully commercialized worldwide
8
Compost
Biomass Management Technology
Feedstocks
Products
Practically any Organic Waste Pretreatment
Sorting Qualifications a separation between
organic and contaminants is necessary
Intermediate products None Products Valuable
Compost By-products Heat and Carbon Dioxide.
(May be useful in a greenhouse environment or for
heating).
Static Pile
Enclosed Compost (bldg. or other container)
Compost
In-vessel compost
BIOMOCHEMICAL
COMPOST
Turned wind roll
Advantages
Commercialization Status
Sustainability Environmental Concerns
Societal Impacts

• Process and convert waste organic materials into
  organic fertilizers containing the nutrients and
  minerals that were in the original waste.

Fully commercialized worldwide. Wide range of
technologies.
Fully sustainable because organic matter is being
recycled, improving overall environment.
Improves social quality through simple processes
available to homeowners and farmers alike.
Reduces need for chemical fertilizers. Can be
low cost.