Biomass for CO2 Sequestration

Abstract

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and controlling the global carbon footprints using renewability and sustainability approach and technologies are some of the cardinal research and development strategies to be adopted in order to enthrone clean energy system which every part of the world is pursuing to achieve in the current energy security dynamics. Global fuel demand has been on the increase with escalating cost of fossil energies with attendant global quagmire and its environmental impacts, global warming, persistent climate change issues, international interests/politics; these challenges are seeking short, medium and long-term solutions from renewable energy resources. Biomass production and re-production, exploitation, valorisation and recycling, technologically or naturally engineered is the focus of this chapter out of other myriads of routes and options available for energy sustainability and independence. CO2 sequestration from biomass through various processes as a strategy is of utmost interest because CO2 generated by biomass anthropogenic processes are essentially removed from the atmosphere by plants (biomasses) through photosynthesis. Plant floras naturally utilize sunlight and CO2 during carbon and energy building and so, the burning of biomasses contributes zero net increase in atmospheric CO2. The strategies presented for biological mitigation of CO2 will rely majorly on the atmosphere, the soil ecosystem and terrestrial plants. Carbon emissions from biomasses and other sources can therefore be effectively controlled and minimized by sequestrating them into more biomasses. The chapter explores various categorization of biomasses with sequestration potentials and contribution to carbon neutrality, biomass carbon sequestration strategies, enhancement of carbon removals in biomass, processes used for biomass carbon sequestration, various aspects of biotic and abiotic means of sequestrating carbons terrestrially and aquatically, and algal carbon sequestration, characteristics and applications. With many processes being developed to deal with the challenges, effects and issues associated with global warming and overall climate change, biomass carbon sequestration is the most sustainable, renewable, significant and acceptable approach and it employs natural and engineered techniques such as biotic and abiotic options while producing more energy which are clean and environmentally acceptable.