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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_2
Biochemical Conversion of Residual
Biomass: An Approach to Fuel Gas
and Green Fertilizers
Carmen Mateescu and Andreea-Daniela Dima
Abstract Energy demand growth along with intensified global efforts to promote
circular economy for solving environmental problems while obtaining high valueadded products has increased the interest for valorization of the residual biomass
that is abundantly generated in agriculture and various industries. This chapter is an
overall contribution aiming to emphasize and clarify some theoretical and practical
aspects on the biochemical conversion of biomass into fuel gases (biomethane and
biohydrogen) and other valuable by-products. The residual biomass is very diverse,
but the quality of the substrate and the biochemical technology, as well as the processing parameters, determine the type and composition of the conversion products.
Hence, particular attention is given to substrate evaluation and pretreatment techniques for increasing the conversion yields and the process economic viability. The
metabolic pathways of microbial processes and the technological parameters are
analysed and discussed for both biomethane and biohydrogen. Some current and
innovative methods of biogas upgrading with a focus on the market applications of
the biochemical conversion to fuel gases are comprehensively approached. Also, the
chapter presents an overview on the technological possibilities and economic benefits of using by-products as green fertilizers for agriculture, briefly mentioning
some other ways for waste recovery to value-added products. In addition to analysing current achievements in this field of research, the chapter aims to identify gaps
and bring to light some issues that need to be studied in greater depth so as to make
the biochemical conversion processes of biomass feasible and widely applicable in
industry.
Keywords Biomass · Waste · Biomethane · Biohydrogen · Fertilizers
C. Mateescu (*)
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA,
Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: carmen.mateescu@icpe-ca.ro
A.-D. Dima
University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_2
Biochemical Conversion of Residual
Biomass: An Approach to Fuel Gas
and Green Fertilizers
Carmen Mateescu and Andreea-Daniela Dima
Abstract Energy demand growth along with intensified global efforts to promote
circular economy for solving environmental problems while obtaining high valueadded products has increased the interest for valorization of the residual biomass
that is abundantly generated in agriculture and various industries. This chapter is an
overall contribution aiming to emphasize and clarify some theoretical and practical
aspects on the biochemical conversion of biomass into fuel gases (biomethane and
biohydrogen) and other valuable by-products. The residual biomass is very diverse,
but the quality of the substrate and the biochemical technology, as well as the processing parameters, determine the type and composition of the conversion products.
Hence, particular attention is given to substrate evaluation and pretreatment techniques for increasing the conversion yields and the process economic viability. The
metabolic pathways of microbial processes and the technological parameters are
analysed and discussed for both biomethane and biohydrogen. Some current and
innovative methods of biogas upgrading with a focus on the market applications of
the biochemical conversion to fuel gases are comprehensively approached. Also, the
chapter presents an overview on the technological possibilities and economic benefits of using by-products as green fertilizers for agriculture, briefly mentioning
some other ways for waste recovery to value-added products. In addition to analysing current achievements in this field of research, the chapter aims to identify gaps
and bring to light some issues that need to be studied in greater depth so as to make
the biochemical conversion processes of biomass feasible and widely applicable in
industry.
Keywords Biomass · Waste · Biomethane · Biohydrogen · Fertilizers
C. Mateescu (*)
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA,
Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: carmen.mateescu@icpe-ca.ro
A.-D. Dima
University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania