Biomass

Biomass is a plant and animal organic material that can be converted from chemical energy to thermal energy in a suitable process. The total amount of living and biological matter in every ecological area is scientifically measured as biomass. Although carbon is the main component of biomass, it usually contains hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and it also includes some alkaline or acidic elements and heavy metals. The fundamental difference between biomass and fossil fuels is the huge time lag. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas made from biomass take millions of years, and the energy density of fossil fuels is many times higher. When energy is produced from fossil fuels, carbon dioxide and water vapor are not absorbed and released into the air, increasing their concentration in the atmosphere. On the other hand, the energy stored in biomass is mainly chemical energy extracted by plants from the sun's photons through photosynthesis. Since the photosynthesis process of plants can continue till its demise, biomass is considered a group of fuel products that are renewable raw materials generated from the organic process.

Basically, agricultural and forest products are considered 'natural biomass.' And natural biomass-based industrial waste products, animal wastes, residues of biodegradable parts, and organic fractions of industrial and municipal wastes are considered 'waste biomass. 'Biogas produced by microorganisms from urban waste disposal or ethanol made from grain starch, cellulose, sugars, etc., of the industrial plants, or biodiesel produced from edible oils, animal fats, greases, etc., are also considered biomass. Biomass is the primary energy source for rural households in different countries, including Bangladesh. The main reason is that biomass is a renewable and low-sulfur-containing clean energy source. Biomass is environmentally friendly as it emits fewer greenhouse gases and other harmful gases than other fuels. [Abu Torab Md. Abdur Rahim]