Biomass: Hydrogen and Methanol Production

Use of biomass as a feedstock for the generation of hydrogen and methanol has rekindled attention due to the growing demand for clean and sustainable energy sources. This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the procedures used to convert biomass into methanol and hydrogen, emphasizing the underlying mechanisms, difficulties, and possible advantages. This section covers several kinds of biomass and their chemical components. In terms of biomass-to-hydrogen production, the chapter addresses various methods of producing hydrogen from biomass, particularly the process known as biomass gasification, which entails the controlled thermal breakdown of biomass in an environment with low oxygen levels to produce a combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The chapter explores the multi-step process of biomass-to-methanol conversion, which involves methanol synthesis, syngas generation, and biomass gasification. The importance of each phase and its possible enhancements are highlighted.