262 PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AND POLITICS
Secondary biomass feedstocks differ from primary biomass feedstocks in that the secondary feedstocks are a byproduct of processing of the primary feedstocks. By processing it is meant that there
is substantial physical or chemical breakdown of the primary biomass and production of byproducts; processors may be factories
or animals. Field processes such as harvesting, bundling, chipping
or pressing do not cause a biomass resource that was produced by
photosynthesis (e.g., tree tops and limbs) to be classified as secondary biomass.
Specific examples of secondary biomass include sawdust from
sawmills, black liquor (which is a byproduct of paper making), and
cheese whey (which is a byproduct of cheese making processes).
Manures from concentrated animal feeding operations are collectable secondary biomass resources. Vegetable oils used for biodiesel
that are derived directly from the processing of oilseeds for various uses are also a secondary biomass resource (Wright et al., 2006;
Bourne, 2007).
Tertiary biomass feedstock includes post consumer residues and
wastes, such as fats, greases, oils, construction and demolition
wood debris, other waste wood from the urban environments,
as well as packaging wastes, municipal solid wastes, and landfill
gases. Other wood waste from the urban environment includes trimmings from urban trees, which technically fit the definition of primary biomass. However, because this material is normally handled
as a waste stream along with other post-consumer wastes from
urban environments, it makes the most sense to consider it to be
part of the tertiary biomass stream.
Biomass can produce a range of liquid fuels that exhibit a wide
range of physical and chemical properties.
Alcohols are oxygenate fuels produced from biomass and practically any of the organic molecules of the alcohol family can be
used as a fuel (Speight, 2008). The alcohols that can be used for
motor fuels are methanol (CH 3 OH), ethanol (C 2 H,OH), propanol
(C 3 H 7 OH), butanol (C 4 H 9 OH). However, only methanol and ethanol fuels are technically and economically suitable for internal combustion engines (Bala, 2005).
Currently the production of ethanol (sometimes referred to as
bio-ethanol) by fermentation of corn-derived carbohydrates is
the main technology used to produce liquid fuels from biomass
resources (McNeil Technologies Inc., 2005). Furthermore, amongst
different biofuels, suitable for application in transport, bioethanol
Secondary biomass feedstocks differ from primary biomass feedstocks in that the secondary feedstocks are a byproduct of processing of the primary feedstocks. By processing it is meant that there
is substantial physical or chemical breakdown of the primary biomass and production of byproducts; processors may be factories
or animals. Field processes such as harvesting, bundling, chipping
or pressing do not cause a biomass resource that was produced by
photosynthesis (e.g., tree tops and limbs) to be classified as secondary biomass.
Specific examples of secondary biomass include sawdust from
sawmills, black liquor (which is a byproduct of paper making), and
cheese whey (which is a byproduct of cheese making processes).
Manures from concentrated animal feeding operations are collectable secondary biomass resources. Vegetable oils used for biodiesel
that are derived directly from the processing of oilseeds for various uses are also a secondary biomass resource (Wright et al., 2006;
Bourne, 2007).
Tertiary biomass feedstock includes post consumer residues and
wastes, such as fats, greases, oils, construction and demolition
wood debris, other waste wood from the urban environments,
as well as packaging wastes, municipal solid wastes, and landfill
gases. Other wood waste from the urban environment includes trimmings from urban trees, which technically fit the definition of primary biomass. However, because this material is normally handled
as a waste stream along with other post-consumer wastes from
urban environments, it makes the most sense to consider it to be
part of the tertiary biomass stream.
Biomass can produce a range of liquid fuels that exhibit a wide
range of physical and chemical properties.
Alcohols are oxygenate fuels produced from biomass and practically any of the organic molecules of the alcohol family can be
used as a fuel (Speight, 2008). The alcohols that can be used for
motor fuels are methanol (CH 3 OH), ethanol (C 2 H,OH), propanol
(C 3 H 7 OH), butanol (C 4 H 9 OH). However, only methanol and ethanol fuels are technically and economically suitable for internal combustion engines (Bala, 2005).
Currently the production of ethanol (sometimes referred to as
bio-ethanol) by fermentation of corn-derived carbohydrates is
the main technology used to produce liquid fuels from biomass
resources (McNeil Technologies Inc., 2005). Furthermore, amongst
different biofuels, suitable for application in transport, bioethanol