State-of-the-Art of Biomass and Municipal Waste into Useful Energy

Dear Colleagues,

Energy is our most valuable natural commodity and the modern world generates power in increasingly large quantities from nonrenewable energy sources, for example, coal, oil and natural gas. The finite nature of such fossil fuels, combined with an increasing worry about the concomitant greenhouse effect, has to led research and industry into   renewable  energy sources (RES), for example, solar, wind, hydropower or biomass and waste. These alternatives will take much time and money to explore fully and require a very large capital investment. In the immediate future, therefore, the most direct and cheapest way to tackle the problem is to use existing energy sources more efficiently. In any case, the biggest source of renewable energy, apart from solar energy, is biomass and municipal waste. Currently, four main methods of biomass and waste utilization are used: direct combustion, pyrolysis, biodegradation and gasification. Direct combustion of biomass and waste (for example on a grate) is not acceptable due to different pyrolysis and oxidative times for various materials present in the stream waste. Most biomass and waste can be converted into fuel by gasification because the process is generally more efficient and cleaner than direct combustion or pyrolysis and biodegradation. Pyrolysis and biodegradation of biomass from agricultural crops, forestry waste and sewage in order to obtain low-calorie fuel is expensive and sometimes dangerous due to methane explosions. However, the main objective of this issue is to promote new and advanced technology for the thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste for alternative energy production, syngas and even hydrogen H2.

Topics and area of interest include but are not limited to:

• Fundamental studies on more efficient processes for energy conversion from different kinds of biomass and organic municipal wastes.
• Exchange the new energy conversion ideas between scientific research workers and engineers throughout the world.
• Implementation of sustainable and more economic co-generation system bases on biomass and wastes for heat, power, syngas and hydrogen production.
• Environmental impact of biomass and wastes.

Prof. Dr. Jan A Sta̧siek
Guest Editor

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