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Biomass sucks
{{for|the use of the term in ecology|Biomass (ecology)}}
[[Image:Montana 16 bg 062406.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Simple use of biomass fuel (Combustion of [[wood fuel|wood]] for heat).]]
{{Renewable energy sources}}
'''Biomass''' refers to living and recently dead [[biological material]] that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as [[biofuel]], but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, [[chemical]]s or heat. Biomass may also include [[biodegradable waste]]s that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes [[organic material]] which has been [[Metamorphism|transformed by geological processes]] into substances such as [[coal]] or [[petroleum]].

Biomass is grown from several plants, including [[miscanthus]], [[switchgrass]], [[hemp]], [[maize|corn]], [[poplar]], [[willow]], [[sugarcane]] <ref>{{cite conference | author = T.A. Volk, L.P. Abrahamson, E.H. White, E. Neuhauser, E. Gray, C. Demeter, C. Lindsey, J. Jarnefeld, D.J. Aneshansley, R. Pellerin and S. Edick | title = Developing a Willow Biomass Crop Enterprise for Bioenergy and Bioproducts in the United States | booktitle = Proceedings of Bioenergy 2000 | publisher = [[North East Regional Biomass Program]] | date = October 15-19, 2000 | location = [[Adam's Mark]] Hotel, [[Buffalo, New York]], USA | URL = http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/bioen00/volk.html | accessdate = 2006-12-16 | id = {{OCLC|45275154}} }}</ref> and [[oil palm]] ([[palm oil]]). The particular plant used is usually not very important to the end products, but it does affect the processing of the raw material. Production of biomass is a growing [[industry]] as interest in sustainable fuel sources is growing.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Although [[fossil fuel]]s have their origin in ancient biomass, they are not considered biomass by the generally accepted definition because they contain carbon that has been "out" of the carbon cycle for a very long time. Their combustion therefore disturbs the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.

Plastics from biomass, like some recently developed to dissolve in seawater, are made the same way as petroleum-based plastics, are actually cheaper to manufacture and meet or exceed most performance standards. But they lack the same water resistance or longevity as conventional plastics.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070404/sc_livescience/ohchickenfeathershowtoreduceplasticwaste;_ylt=AsoNp3lYLjTRmrSb25gq53vq188F Oh, Chicken Feathers! How to Reduce Plastic Waste]. Yahoo News, [[Apr 5]], [[2007]].</ref>

==Processing and uses==
Biomass which is not simply burned as fuel may be processed in other ways such as corn.

Low tech processes include:<ref>Introduction to Renewable Energy Technology. 1996. John Sakalauskas. Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE / Open Training Services.</ref>
*[[composting]] (to make soil conditioners and fertilizers)
*[[anaerobic digestion]] (decaying biomass to produce methane gas and sludge as a fertilizer)
*[[fermentation]] and [[distillation]] (both produce [[ethyl alcohol]])
More high-tech processes are:
*[[Pyrolysis]] (heating organic wastes in the absence of air to produce gas and [[char]]. Both are combustible.)
*[[Hydrogasification]] (produces [[methane]] and [[ethane]])
*[[Hydrogenation]] (converts biomass to oil using [[carbon monoxide]] and steam under high pressures and temperatures)
*[[Destructive distillation]] (produces [[methyl alcohol]] from high cellulose organic wastes).
*[[Acid hydrolysis]] (treatment of wood wastes to produce sugars, which can be distilled)
Burning biomass, or the fuel products produced from it, may be used for heat or electricity production.

Other uses of biomass, besides fuel and compost include:
*Building materials
*Biodegradable plastics and paper (using cellulose fibres)

==Environmental impact==
Biomass is part of the [[carbon cycle]]. Carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by [[photosynthesis]]. On death or combustion the carbon goes back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This happens over a relatively short timescale and plant matter used as a fuel can be constantly replaced by planting for new growth. Therefore a reasonably stable level of atmospheric carbon results from its use as a fuel. It is commonly accepted that the amount of carbon stored in dry wood is approximately 50% by weight.<ref>http://www.uvm.edu/~jcjenkin/smith%20et%20al.%202003.pdf</ref>

Though biomass is a [[renewable]] fuel, and is sometimes called a "carbon neutral" fuel, its use can still contribute to [[global warming]]. This happens when the natural carbon equilibrium is disturbed; for example by deforestation or urbanization of green sites. When biomass is used as a fuel, as a replacement for fossil fuels, it still puts the same amount of CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere, and is not a solution to global warming.<ref>[http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/globalwarming.php How False Solutions to Climate Change Will Worsen Global Warming]</ref><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080209/biofuel_crops_080209/20080209 Biofuel crops may worsen global warming: study]</ref><ref>[http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Biodiesel_Will_Not_Drive_Down_Global_Warming_999.html Biodiesel Will Not Drive Down Global Warming]</ref>

Despite harvesting, biomass crops may sequester (trap) carbon. So for example soil organic carbon has been observed to be greater in switchgrass stands than in cultivated cropland soil, especially at depths below 12 inches.<ref>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=164741, Soil Carbon under Switchgrass Stands and Cultivated Cropland (Interpretive Summary and Technical Abstract)]. USDA Agricultural Research Service, April 1, 2005 </ref> The grass sequesters the carbon in its increased root biomass. But the perennial grass may need to be allowed to grow for several years before increases are measurable.<ref>[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999PhDT........73M, Carbon sequestration by switchgrass]. Abstract for Thesis (PhD). AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Source DAI-B 60/05, p. 1937, Nov 1999 </ref>

==Biomass production for human use and consumption==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="200" | [[Biome|BIOME]] [[Ecosystem|ECOSYSTEM]] TYPE
! width="12" | Area
! width="12" | Mean Net Primary Production
! width="12" | World Primary Production
! width="12" | Mean biomass
! width="12" | World biomass
! width="12" | Minimum replacement rate
|-
|
| (million km²)
| (gram dryC/sq metre/year)
| (billion tonnes/year)
| (kg dryC/sq metre)
| (billion tonnes)
| (years)
|-
| [[Tropical rain forest]]
| 17.0
| 2,200
| 37.40
| 45.00
| 765.00
| 20.50
|-
| Tropical [[monsoon]] forest
| 7.5
| 1,600
| 12.00
| 35.00
| 262.50
| 21.88
|-
| Temperate [[evergreen forest]]
| 5.0
| 1,320
| 6.60
| 35.00
| 175.00
| 26.52
|-
| [[Temperate deciduous forest]]
| 7.0
| 1,200
| 8.40
| 30.00
| 210.00
| 25.00
|-
| [[Boreal forest]]
| 12.0
| 800
| 9.60
| 20.00
| 240.00
| 25.00
|-
| [[Mediterranean]] open [[forest]]
| 2.8
| 750
| 2.10
| 18.00
| 50.40
| 24.00
|-
| [[Desert]] and [[semidesert]] [[scrubland|scrub]]
|18.0
|90
|1.62
|0.70
|12.60
|7.78
|-
| Extreme [[desert]], [[rock desert|rock]], [[sand dunes|sand]] or [[ice sheets]]
|24.0
|3
|0.07
|0.02
|0.48
|6.67
|-
| [[Cultivated land]]
|14.0
|650
|9.10
|1.00
|14.00
|1.54
|-
| [[Swamp]] and [[marsh]]
|2.0
|2,000
|4.00
|15.00
|30.00
|7.50
|-
| [[Lake]]s and [[stream]]s
|2.0
|250
|0.50
|0.02
|0.04
|0.08
|-
| '''Total continental'''
|149.00
|774.51
|115.40
|12.57
|1,873.42
|16.23
|-
| [[Open ocean]]
|332.00
|125.00
|41.50
|0.003
|1.00
|0.02
|-
| [[Upwelling]] zones
|0.40
|500.00
|0.20
|0.020
|0.01
|0.04
|-
| [[Continental shelf]]
|26.60
|360.00
|9.58
|0.010
|0.27
|0.03
|-
| [[Algal bed]]s and [[reef]]s
|0.60
|2,500.00
|1.50
|2.000
|1.20
|0.80
|-
| [[Estuary|Estuaries]] & [[mangroves]]
|1.40
|1,500.00
|2.10
|1.000
|1.40
|0.67
|-
| '''Total marine'''
|361.00
|152.01
|54.88
|0.01
|3.87
|0.07
|-
| '''Grand total'''
|510.00
|333.87
|170.28
|3.68
|1,877.29
|11.02
|}

Source: {{cite book | last = Whittaker | first = R. H. | authorlink = Robert Whittaker | coauthors = [[Gene Likens|Likens, G. E.]] | chapter= The Biosphere and Man | pages = 305-328 | editor = [[Helmut Lieth|Leith, H.]] & Whittaker, R. H. | title = Primary Productivity of the Biosphere | publisher = Springer-Verlag | id=ISBN 0-3870-7083-4|year=1975}}; [[Ecological Studies]] Vol 14 (Berlin)

==See also==
*[[Anaerobic digestion]]
*[[Bioenergy]]
*[[Biofuel]]
*[[Biomass (ecology)]]
*[[Biomass gasification]]
*[[Biomass heating systems]]
*[[Biomass to liquid]]
*[[Bioplastic]]
*[[Biorefinery]]
*[[Corn kernels]]
*[[Decompiculture]]
*[[Energy crop]]
*[[Microgeneration]]
*[[Microgeneration Certification Scheme]]
*[[Standing crop]]
*[[Thermal mass]]
*[[Wood fuel]] (a traditional biomass fuel)
*[[World Council for Renewable Energy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portalpar|Sustainable development|Sustainable development.svg}}
{{portal|Energy}}
* [http://www.everythingbiomass.org/ Everything Biomass ]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-25676_25753---,00.html Michigan Biomass Energy Program]
* [http://biomass.age.uiuc.edu BioMASS Laboratory at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ]
* [http://forestbioenergy.net Forest Bioenergy]
* [http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-crops.htm Texas State Cons. of Energy Office Biomass Article]
* [http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-crops.htm Kentucky fc]
* [http://www.hydrogenews.com/common/area.php?lista=BIO Biomass on Hydrogenews]
* [http://www.rpdl-biomass.com/ Renewable Products Development Laboratories (RPDL)]
* [http://www.eubia.org/ European Biomass Industry Association]
* [http://www.conference-biomass.com European Biomass Conference & Exhibition].


[[Category:Bioenergy]]
[[Category:Fuels]]
[[Category:Sustainable technologies]]

[[ar:كتلة حيوية]]
[[ca:Biomassa]]
[[cs:Biomasa]]
[[da:Biomasse]]
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[[el:Βιομάζα]]
[[es:Biomasa]]
[[eo:Biomaso]]
[[fr:Biomasse (énergie)]]
[[gl:Biomasa]]
[[id:Biomassa]]
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[[he:ביומסה]]
[[hu:Biomassza]]
[[ms:Biojisim]]
[[nl:Biomassa]]
[[ja:バイオマス]]
[[no:Biomasse]]
[[oc:Biomassa]]
[[pl:Biomasa]]
[[pt:Biomassa]]
[[ro:Biomasă (ecologie)]]
[[qu:Kawsa imayay]]
[[ru:Биомасса]]
[[simple:Biomass]]
[[sl:Biomasa]]
[[fi:Biomassa]]
[[sv:Biomassa]]
[[th:ชีวมวล]]
[[tg:Биомасса]]
[[tr:Biyokütle]]
[[uk:Біомаса]]
[[zh:生物质能]]

Revision as of 15:10, 24 March 2008

Biomass sucks

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