1.0. Introduction 4044 2.0. Biomass Chemistry and Growth Rates 4047 2.1. Lignocellulose and Starch-Based Plants 4047 2.2. Triglyceride-Producing Plants 4049 2.3. Algae 4050 2.4. Terpenes and Rubber-Producing Plants 4052 3.0. Biomass Gasification 4052 3.1. Gasification Chemistry 4052 3.2. Gasification Reactors 4054 3.3. Supercritical Gasification 4054 3.4. Solar Gasification 4055 3.5. Gas Conditioning 4055 4.0. Syn-Gas Utilization 4056 4.1. Hydrogen Production by Water−Gas Shift Reaction 4056

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Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: chemistry, catalysts, and engineering.

Biomass is an important feedstock for the renewable production of fuels, chemicals, and energy. As of 2005, over 3% of the total energy consumption in the United States was supplied by biomass, and it recently surpassed hydroelectric energy as the largest domestic source of renewable energy. Similarly, the European Union received 66.1% of its renewable energy from biomass, which thus surpassed the total combined contribution from hydropower, wind power, geothermal energy, and solar power. In addition to energy, the production of chemicals from biomass is also essential; indeed, the only renewable source of liquid transportation fuels is currently obtained from biomass.

The Catalytic Valorization of Lignin for the Production of Renewable Chemicals

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the rates at which Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) is added and removed from ecosystems, the biomass found in streams and forests, and many functions that CWD serves. CWD is an important component of temperate stream and forest ecosystems and is added to the ecosystem by numerous mechanisms, including wind, fire, insect attack, pathogens, competition, and geomorphic processes. Many factors control the rate at which CWD decomposes, including temperature, moisture, the internal gas composition of CWD, substrate quality, the size of the CWD, and the types of organisms involved. The mass of CWD in an ecosystem ideally represents the balance between addition and loss. In reality, slow decomposition rates and erratic variations in input of CWD cause the CWD mass to deviate markedly from steady-state projections. Many differences correspond to forest type, with deciduous-dominated systems having generally lower biomass than conifer-dominated systems. Stream size also influences CWD mass in lotic ecosystems, while successional stage dramatically influences CWD mass in boat aquatic and terrestrial settings. This chapter reviews many of these functions and concludes that CWD is an important functional component of stream and forest ecosystems. Better scientific understanding of these functions and the natural factors influencing CWD dynamics should lead to more enlightened management practices.

Ecology of Coarse Woody Debris in Temperate Ecosystems

Fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates. II: inhibitors and mechanisms of inhibition.

Some pertinent results and views from the earlier history of lignin chemistry, pointing to the importance of the arylpropane skeleton, are outlined. Later development, beginning with the dehydrogenation theory and experimental studies on the dehydrogenative polymerization of p-hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, is then reviewed. Finally, recent degradative work resulting in a detailed picture of lignin structure is discussed.

Lignin chemistry—past, present and future

Chromophores in Kraft Lignin

Quinone dehydrogenation. Oxidation of benzylic alcohols with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone

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Periodate Oxidation of Phenols. IX. Oxidation of o-(omega-Hydroxyalkyl)phenols.

The acid-catalysed (catalyst, 0.15 M p-toluenesulfonic acid in the reaction medium) alkylation of lignins with rnethano) or ethanol in dioxane (alcohol-dioxane (2:1)) at 30°C has been studied by NMR spectroscopic methods. Complete alkylation required 4—6 days and resulted in the introduction of about one alkoxyl group in every second phenylpropane unit. The alkylation can be explained by etherification of benzy) alcohols (and, to a minute extent, cinnamyl alcohols), reetherification of benzyl ethers, esterification of carboxylic acids and formation of acetals from benzaldehydes, cinnamaldehydes and glyceraldehyde-2-aryl ethers. The methodology used permitted the conclusion that reactions other than alkylation occurred to only a minor extent. The wine-red colour acquired by the reaction mixture from lignin alkylation could be related to the occurrence of cinnamaldehyde groups. According to model compound studies, alkylation of arylglycerol-ß-aryl ethers resulted in a mixture of the erythro (60%) and threo (40%) forms of the benzyl ethers.

Erich Adler

Papers

Lignin chemistry—past, present and future

Chromophores in Kraft Lignin

Quinone dehydrogenation. Oxidation of benzylic alcohols with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone

Periodate Oxidation of Phenols. IX. Oxidation of o-(omega-Hydroxyalkyl)phenols.

Investigation of the acid-catalysed alkylation of lignins by means of NMR spectroscopic methods