Sustainability of multifaceted usage of biomass: A review

Abstract

The paper focuses on collection of information on recent multifaceted usage of biomass materials with critical examination on its sustainability. The use of biomass is becoming popular, with wide global acceptance as it is considered as green technology. The use of biomass products across industrial parallels, the material combination and production processes were elucidated in this paper. Biomass materials are seen as affordable alternative to conventional materials for domestic and industrial applications. The multifaceted use of biomass, which includes, energy generation, metallurgical applications, construction purposes, reinforcement in metal matrix composite, microelectromechanical system, biochemical and traditional medicine were discussed. This underscores the need to develop a sustainable plan to meet with its diverse usage to be beyond laboratory efforts. This paper examined whether the availability of biomass can sustain its multifaceted usage or not. It also examined the modalities to ensure sustainable use of biomass. Different policies were highlighted and discussed in line with continuous multifaceted use of biomass.

Briquetting of subbituminous coal and torrefied biomass using bentonite as inorganic binder

“…Wastes from coal mining, handling and transportation are always in million tonnes 1 . Coal fines (< 3 mm) are often referred to as wastes and are inevitably produced when lump coals are processed or handled 2 , 3 . Wastes from the wood processing industries have also been reported to be in million tonnes especially in developing countries 4 , 5 .…”

“…Wastes from the wood processing industries have also been reported to be in million tonnes especially in developing countries 4 , 5 . These wastes have been found useful in various area of applications which includes energy generation 6 , 7 , reinforcement in metal matrix composites 8 – 10 , microelectromechanical systems 3 among others. Predominantly, developing nations have peculiar issues with low energy mix.…”

Effect of Process Techniques on Three Feedstocks Mix on Briquette Performance Properties

“…Significant quantities of biomass are available in Sub-Saharan Africa for conversation into domestic energy sources [3,4]. Biomassare however underutilized due to poor combustion characteristics [10].…”

Pilot Scale Production of Precast Concrete Elements with Wood Biomass Ash

“…In order to reach these ambitious goals, Europe aims to phase out coal combustion, largely depending on the capacity of renewable energy sources to fill in the gap left by the coal downturn [ 17 ]. The updated Renewable Energy Directive suggests that bioenergy and biomass could make a valuable contribution in creating a low-carbon energy system with a share of 18% of the total energy supply in 2050 [ 7 ], with a presumption of a sustainable handling of biomass [ 18 , 19 ]. The industrial use of bioenergy is expected to increase almost threefold to 24 EJ by 2060, providing almost 14% of industrial energy demand [ 20 ].…”

“…As wood biomass is identified as a CO 2 -neutral energy source because it releases almost as much CO 2 during combustion as it absorbs during its growth, it is one of the most important sources of biomass for energy production in the EU, with a majority share of 59% in total renewable energy [ 18 , 19 , 23 ]. Considering that the combustion of 1 t of wood biomass results in about 3% WBA [ 24 ], the expansion of wood biomass power plants already results in sizable amounts of wood biomass ash (WBA).…”