Biomass: From Plants to Garbage 545
A. Introduction
B. Biomass Conversion
C. Food, Fuel, Famine
D. Municipal Solid Waste
E. Wood Combustion
F. Summary
alcohol fuel
fuel made by distilling grain, wood, or other plant products into alcohol. Ethanol (C2H5OH) is the most common fuel.
anaerobic digestion
decomposition process by which bacteria convert organic material into methane in the absence of oxygen.
biomass organic material in any form:
wood, crop residue, animal manure, and so forth. Biomass contains energy stored in chemical form.
leachate
liquid resulting from water moving through a landfill (“garbage juice”).
leaching
the process by which water moves through a material (e.g., garbage), picking up substances in the material.
photosynthesis
the production of carbohydrates in a plant from water and carbon dioxide using solar radiation.
Council for Biotechnology Information
http://www.whybiotech.com
Food Safety
http://www.foodsafety.gov
National Biodiesel Board
http://www.biodiesel.org
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/biomass
Renewable Fuels Association
http://www.ethanolrfa.org
Transportation and Air Quality
http://www.epa.gov/otaq
Wood Heat Organization
http://www.woodheat.org