Energy from Biomass - AP Environmental Science

A type of biofuel derived from biomass. Alcohol fuel produced through fermentation of sugars.

Megajoules (MJ). Standard unit for measuring energy content of organic materials.

Plant material and animal waste. These are renewable organic sources for energy conversion.

Biomass composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Woody plant material containing complex structural compounds.

Competes with food production. Energy crops may reduce land available for food production.

Converts sugars into alcohol. Anaerobic biological process that produces ethanol from glucose.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂). Yeast produces this gas when converting sugars to ethanol.

Biomass power generation. Burning biomass produces steam to drive electrical turbines.

Thermal decomposition of biomass in absence of oxygen. Heat breaks down biomass without burning it completely.

Biofuel production. Process creates ethanol, biodiesel, and other liquid fuels.

Process to produce biodiesel from oils. Chemical reaction that converts plant oils into biodiesel.

Anaerobic digestion. Bacteria break down organic matter without oxygen present.

Can lead to deforestation. Large-scale harvesting may destroy forest ecosystems.

Conversion of biomass into syngas. High-temperature process converts biomass into synthesis gas.

A biofuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats. Alternative diesel fuel derived from biological sources.

Breaks down organic matter anaerobically. Enclosed system where bacteria decompose organic waste without oxygen.

Simultaneous production of electricity and heat. Efficient system captures waste heat for additional energy use.

Light energy to chemical energy. Solar energy becomes chemical bonds in glucose molecules.

Wood. Most common biomass fuel burned for thermal energy.

Methane (CH₄). Biomass prevents methane emissions from decomposing organic waste.

CO₂ released is offset by CO₂ absorbed. Growing plants absorb the same CO₂ that burning releases.

Pyrolysis. High-temperature decomposition process used for biomass conversion.

Approximately 2.8 gallons. Standard conversion rate for corn-based ethanol production.

Acid hydrolysis. Chemical process that breaks down cellulose using acids.

Corn. Major agricultural crop used for ethanol fuel production.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂). Complete combustion of carbon-based biomass produces this gas.

Ethanol. Alcohol fuel commonly blended with gasoline for vehicles.

Requires large land areas. Energy crops compete with agriculture for available land.

Methane (CH₄). Primary combustible gas produced by anaerobic digestion.