This conference is the second such meeting under the auspices of the International Energy Agency's Bioenergy Agreement. The first lEA sponsored Fundamentals of Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Conference was held in Estes Park in 1982 and attracted 153 delegates from 13 countries around the world at a time when interest in biomass derived energy was at a peak. Since then oil prices have fallen considerably and with most prognoses for level prices until the end of the century, there has been a significant downturn in support for biomass conversion technologies. It has been particularly encouraging, therefore, to have received such an excellent response to this meeting. A total of 122 papers were offered, and 135 delegates registered for the conference from 19 countries. The theme of this meeting was Research in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion to reflect the advances made in research, development, demonstration and com mercialisation since the Fundamentals meeting in 1982. The programme was divided into sections on fundamental research, applied research, and demonstration and commercial activities to emphasise the interaction and roles of all levels of research in supporting the eventual commercial implementation. The layout of the pro ceedings reflects this same pattern, with an introductory section on status and technoeconomics to identify opportunities and constraints in different parts of the world. All the papers included in these proceedings have been subjected to the usual peer review process to ensure the highest standards.

Throughout the world many projects have been underway to investigate the conversion of renewable biomass into energy and synthetic fuels by thermo chemical methods such as combustion, pyrolysis, gasification and lique faction. While many of these represent prior art used during the early 20th century, the recent decade since the 1970s oil shock has immeasurably increased the knowledge base for such processes. Much of the new knowledge has been gained by persons who were not trained in classical wood chemistry and there have not yet been many attempts to synthesize the knowledge into a corpus of systematic information. To bring this about the International Energy Agency's Forestry Energy collaboration, the Gas Research Institute, the National Research Council of Canada and the US Department of Energy jointly sponsored a conference on the Fundamentals of Thermochemical Biomass Conversion in Estes Park, Colorado which was held on October 18-22, 1982. The Conference, which was structured around invited plenary papers and contributions from researchers, served as the basis for the papers in this volume which reflect the substantial conclusions of the Conference. During the planning for the Conference, it was realized by the editors in their capacity as Co-chairmen that a major problem in biomass research was the lack of reproducibility between reported experiments and their inter comparison on account of the heterogeneity of biomass materials. A well known wood chemist, George M.

Thermochemical pathways for biomass conversion offer opportunities for rapid and efficient processing of diverse feedstocks into fuels, chemicals and power. Thermochemical processing has several advantages relative to biochemical processing, including greater feedstock flexibility, conversion of both carbohydrate and lignin into products, faster reaction rates, and the ability to produce a diverse selection of fuels. Thermochemical Processing of Biomass examines the large number of possible pathways for converting biomass into fuels, chemicals and power through the use of heat and catalysts. The book presents a practical overview of the latest research in this rapidly developing field, highlighting the fundamental chemistry, technical applications and operating costs associated with thermochemical conversion strategies. Bridging the gap between research and practical application, this book is written for engineering professionals in the biofuels industry, as well as academic researchers working in bioenergy, bioprocessing technology and chemical engineering. Topics covered include: Combustion Gasification Fast Pyrolysis Hydrothermal Processing Upgrading Syngas and Bio-oil Catalytic Conversion of Sugars to Fuels Hybrid Thermochemical/Biochemical Processing Economics of Thermochemical Conversion For more information on the Wiley Series in Renewable Resources, visit www.wiley.com/go/rrs

A comprehensive examination of the large number of possible pathways for converting biomass into fuels and power through thermochemical processes Bringing together a widely scattered body of information into a single volume, this book provides complete coverage of the many ways that thermochemical processes are used to transform biomass into fuels, chemicals and power. Fully revised and updated, this new edition highlights the substantial progress and recent developments that have been made in this rapidly growing field since publication of the first edition and incorporates up-to-date information in each chapter. Thermochemical Processing of Biomass: Conversion into Fuels, Chemicals and Power, 2nd Edition incorporates two new chapters covering: condensed phased reactions of thermal deconstruction of biomass and life cycle analysis of thermochemical processing systems. It offers a new introductory chapter that provides a more comprehensive overview of thermochemical technologies. The book also features fresh perspectives from new authors covering such evolving areas as solvent liquefaction and hybrid processing. Other chapters cover combustion, gasification, fast pyrolysis, upgrading of syngas and bio-oil to liquid transportation fuels, and the economics of thermochemically producing fuels and power, and more. Features contributions by a distinguished group of European and American researchers offering a broad and unified description of thermochemical processing options for biomass Combines an overview of the current status of thermochemical biomass conversion as well as engineering aspects to appeal to the broadest audience Edited by one of Biofuels Digest’s "Top 100 People" in bioenergy for six consecutive years Thermochemical Processing of Biomass: Conversion into Fuels, Chemicals and Power, 2nd Edition will appeal to all academic researchers, process chemists, and engineers working in the field of biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals. It is also an excellent book for graduate and advanced undergraduate students studying biomass, biofuels, renewable resources, and energy and power generation.

This book is for chemical engineers, fuel technologists, agricultural engineers and chemists in the world-wide energy industry and in academic, research and government institutions. It provides a thorough review of, and entry to, the primary and review literature surrounding the subject. The authors are internationally recognised experts in their field and combine to provide both commercial relevance and academic rigour. Contributions are based on papers delivered to the Fifth International Conference sponsored by the IEA Bioenergy Agreement.

This book provides an account of the state-of-the-art in thermochemical biomass conversion and arises from the third conference in a series sponsored by the International Energy Agency's Bioenergy Agreement. Fundamental and applied research topics are included, reflecting recent advances as well as demonstration and commercial innovation.

This book provides general information and data on one of the most promising renewable energy sources: biomass for its thermochemical conversion. During the last few years, there has been increasing focus on developing the processes and technologies for the conversion of biomass to liquid and gaseous fuels and chemicals, in particular to develop low-cost technologies. This book provides date-based scientific information on the most advanced and innovative processing of biomass as well as the process development elements on thermochemical processing of biomass for the production of biofuels and bio-products on (biomass-based biorefinery). The conversion of biomass to biofuels and other value-added products on the principle biorefinery offers potential from technological perspectives as alternate energy. The book covers intensive R&D and technological developments done during the last few years in the area of renewable energy utilizing biomass as feedstock and will be highly beneficial for the researchers, scientists and engineers working in the area of biomass-biofuels- biorefinery. - Provides the most advanced and innovative thermochemical conversion technology for biomass - Provides information on large scales such as thermochemical biorefinery - Useful for researchers intending to study scale up - Serves as both a textbook for graduate students and a reference book for researchers - Provides information on integration of process and technology on thermochemical conversion of biomass

There is increasing recognition that low-cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals are essential for expanding the utilization of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol via fermentation, high capacity processes are also required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels and chemicals. In addition to traditional conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis, new developments are considered, including catalytic routes for the production of liquid fuels from carbohydrates and the use of ionic liquids for lignocellulose utilization. The individual chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an introduction to each topic, as well as describing recent research developments.

There have been many developments in the science and technology of thermo chemical biomass conversion since the previous conference on Advances in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion in Interlaken, Switzerland, in 1992. This fourth conference again covers all aspects of thermal biomass conversion systems from fundamental research through applied research and development to demon stration and commercial applications to reflect the progress made in the last four years. All aspects of bioenergy systems are covered from pretreatment through to end-user applications with increased consideration paid to the environmental benefits and problems of implementing bio-energy systems. There was an excellent response with over 200 papers offered and over 180 delegates from 29 countries attending the conference. The programme was divided into five main areas covering pyrolysis, pretreatment, gasification, combustion and system studies and this division is reflected in the structure of these conference proceedings. Each main section was preceded by a state-of-the-art review to provide a focus for the ensuing presentations and an authoritative reference. All the papers included have been subject to a full peer review process. As with any international conference, an important aim was to exchange ideas and discuss problems with fellow researchers, as well as to hear about the latest research and development and applications. A workshop programme was included to encourage this interaction in areas of interest selected by participants. The resul tant workshop reports provide a summary of topical problems and opportunities.

This book presents a systems approach to bioenergy and provides a means to capture the complexity of bioenergy issues, including both direct and indirect impacts across the energy economy. The book addresses critical topics such as systems thinking; sustainability, biomass; feedstocks of importance and relevance (that are not competing with the food market); anaerobic digestion and biogas; biopower and bioheat; and policies, economy, and rights to access to clean energy. This is a contributed volume with each chapter written by relevant experts in the respective fields of research and teaching. Each chapter includes a review with highlights of the key points, critical-thinking questions, and a glossary.This book can be used as a primary or secondary textbook in courses related to bioenergy and bioproducts and sustainable biofuels. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers, professionals, and policy makers will also be able to use this book for current reference materials.