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Biomass for thermochemical conversion: targets and challenges

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dc.contributor.authorTanger, Paul, author
dc.contributor.authorField, John L., author
dc.contributor.authorJahn, Courtney E., author
dc.contributor.authorDeFoort, Morgan W., author
dc.contributor.authorLeach, Jan E., author
dc.contributor.authorFrontiers Research Foundation, publisher
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T05:34:20Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T05:34:20Z
dc.date.issued2013-07
dc.description.abstractBioenergy will be one component of a suite of alternatives to fossil fuels. Effective conversion of biomass to energy will require the careful pairing of advanced conversion technologies with biomass feedstocks optimized for the purpose. Lignocellulosic biomass can be converted to useful energy products via two distinct pathways: enzymatic or thermochemical conversion. The thermochemical pathways are reviewed and potential biotechnology or breeding targets to improve feedstocks for pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion are identified. Biomass traits influencing the effectiveness of the thermochemical process (cell wall composition, mineral and moisture content) differ from those important for enzymatic conversion and so properties are discussed in the language of biologists (biochemical analysis) as well as that of engineers (proximate and ultimate analysis). We discuss the genetic control, potential environmental influence, and consequences of modification of these traits. Improving feedstocks for thermochemical conversion can be accomplished by the optimization of lignin levels, and the reduction of ash and moisture content. We suggest that ultimate analysis and associated properties such as H:C, O:C, and heating value might be more amenable than traditional biochemical analysis to the high-throughput necessary for the phenotyping of large plant populations. Expanding our knowledge of these biomass traits will play a critical role in the utilization of biomass for energy production globally, and add to our understanding of how plants tailor their composition with their environment.
dc.description.sponsorshipPublished with support from the Colorado State University Libraries Open Access Research and Scholarship Fund.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumarticles
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationTanger, Paul, John L. Field, Courtney E. Jahn, Morgan W. DeFoort and Jan E. Leach,Biomass for Thermochemical Conversion: Targets and Challenges. Frontiers in Plant Science 4, Article 218 (July 2013): 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2013.00218
dc.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2013.00218
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/79229
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartofOpen Access Research and Scholarship Fund (OARS)
dc.rights.licenseThis article is open access and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0).
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
dc.subjectproximate/ultimate analysis
dc.subjectmoisture content
dc.subjectbiomass composition
dc.subjectthermochemical conversion
dc.subjectsilica
dc.subjecthigh-throughput phenotyping
dc.subjectheating value
dc.titleBiomass for thermochemical conversion: targets and challenges
dc.typeText

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