Chapter 9 - Biomass production, storage, and pretreatment for the production of solid biofuels

Abstract

Biomass exists in many forms, and potential feedstocks for refining can be found almost everywhere in our environment. Biomass as waste and residues normally have a relatively low price and a larger variation than the main crop or products. On the other hand, a plant able to accept large feedstock variation will most likely turn out to be more expensive to build and run. This chapter covers knowledge about biomass essential for the planning and operation of a biorefinery. In addition, it describes the supply chain from field, forest, aquatics, and so on, to processed solid feedstock for refining and conversion into biofuels. It is important to understand that variation discovered in the fuel conversion is not only related to the conversion process alone, as all steps in the supply chain may influence the final product. Especially the soil, climatic conditions, crop age, harvesting method, and so on together with the storage conditions affect the biomass feedstock characteristics relevant for conversion. The biomass properties may imply a required upgrading or pretreatment like torrefaction, densification, comminution, or similar to ease transportation and handling or meet the required characteristics as feedstock at the refinery.