Modernized biomass gasification for power generation has attracted increasing interests as an attempt to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel. In fact, over the past couple of years, a lot of RD&D has gone into overcoming the technical hurdles of biomass gasification mainly producing clean gas which is free of particulates and tars bed agglomeration and biomass feeding/handling. Biomass Gasification Design Handbook offers engineers and scientist a ?hands on? reference for understanding and successfully overcoming these hurdles. In this book, readers find a versatile resource that not only explains the basic principles of energy conversion and biomass conversion systems but also provides valuable insight into the design of biomass gasifiers. Thorough in his coverage, the author provides many worked out design problems, step-by-step design procedures, and real data on commercially operating systems. In addition, the book contains four valuable appendices that eliminate the need to search for essential information.

With supplies of non-renewable energy sources running low and the threat of global warming and climate change, there is an urgent need to look at other types of energy resources and how well they can meet our power needs. While new technologies are being developed, each energy resource comes at a cost. This series looks at each energy resource, the technology and cost of how it is used to meet power needs and how it impacts the environment and humans. Each book explains how that power is generated and where it is used, and then, using specific Let's Discuss panels, explores the various advantages and disadvantages that concern it’s use as an alternative fuel source. Case studies examine specific usage examples where that source has either worked or not worked so that the reader can weigh up the pros and cons for the use of each source against the alternatives.

A topical new series that addresses the pros and cons of all energy courses. Each book looks at the fundamentals of each energy type with information on how they work, their benefits and limits, examples from around the world and the current and future questions. Debates run strongly throughout as readers are encouraged to look at how the type of energy affects people and planet Earth.

Biochar is charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass. The resulting charcoal-like material is a form of biosequestration or atmospheric carbon capture and storage. Charcoal is a stable solid and rich in carbon content, and thus, can be used to lock carbon in the soil. Biochar is of increasing interest because of concerns about climate change caused by emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG). Carbon dioxide capture also ties up large amounts of oxygen and requires energy for injection (as via carbon capture and storage), whereas the biochar process breaks into the carbon dioxide cycle, thus releasing oxygen as did coal formation hundreds of millions of years ago. The atmosphere would be rebalanced more quickly this way.

"Biomass Recalcitrance is a must–have.... The compilation covers fundamentals as well as hot topics that will provide new insights and knowledge to many readers." (ChemSusChem, June 2009)

Alternative and renewable fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass offer a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, and provide energy security, economic growth, and environmental benefits. However, plant cell walls naturally resist decomposition from microbes and enzymes – this collective resistance is known as "biomass recalcitrance". Breakthrough technologies are needed to overcome barriers to developing cost–effective processes for converting biomass to fuels and chemicals.

This book examines the connection between biomass structure, ultrastructure, and composition, to resistance to enzymatic deconstruction, with the aim of discovering new cost–effective technologies for biorefineries. It contains chapters on topics extending from the highest levels of biorefinery design and biomass life–cycle analysis, to detailed aspects of plant cell wall structure, chemical treatments, enzymatic hydrolysis, and product fermentation options.

Biomass Recalcitrance is essential reading for researchers, process chemists and engineers working in biomass conversion, also plant scientists working in cell wall biology and plant biotechnology.