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Environmental pollution, climate change, greenhouse effect, etc., are consequences of uncontrolled CO2 emissions causing the Earth to heat up. Faced with this alarming environmental situation, the global goal of "net zero carbon" has been set to aim for a model of green economic development, a circular economy. Biomass emerges with the mission to become a new solution, replacing traditional fossil fuels, and opening up a "sustainable future" for the energy industry. Let's learn more about biomass in the following article.

2. Chemical composition of biomass

Biomass is a rich renewable energy source generated from organic materials such as grasses, wood, straw, palm fronds, bagasse, coffee husks, animal manure, and other organic waste. The chemical composition of biomass may vary depending on the source and type of grass or wood used. However, some common components of biomass include:

• Lignin: accounts for approximately 15-25% of the weight of raw biomass. Lignin is a complex organic polymer found in the cell walls of woody plants. Chemically, lignin is a polymer formed by cross-linking phenol precursors, and it primarily acts as an adhesive substance in the structural tissues of plants. Lignin is particularly important in cell wall formation, especially in wood and bark, as it provides hardness and resistance to decay.
• Cellulose: Cellulose is a type of polysaccharide, accounting for about 40-50% of the weight of raw biomass. Cellulose is also a major component of plant cell walls and serves as the primary source for glucose production in the biological conversion process.
• Hemicellulose: Similar to cellulose, hemicellulose is also a type of polysaccharide present in plant cell walls. Accounting for about 20-35% of the weight of raw biomass, it typically contains various chemical units and plays a crucial role in the biological conversion process.
• Protein: In biomass sources derived from food such as bagasse or coffee husks, protein may constitute about 2-10% of the weight of raw biomass.
• Lipid: Lipids are relatively uncommon in biomass, typically representing a small fraction (<1%) of the weight of raw biomass.
• Moisture: Moisture is another important factor in biomass, which can affect the conversion process and energy efficiency. The moisture content in raw biomass can range from 5% to over 50%, depending on the harvesting and storage processes.

3. Types of Biomass

Biomass exists in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas, and is often burned to release energy.

• Solid form: This is the most common form of biomass, utilizing agricultural and forestry residues such as rice husk, bagasse, coffee grounds, corn cobs, palm kernel shells, straw, wood chips, etc. Additionally, solid waste from industrial and household production such as food scraps, paper, other organic materials, etc., is also considered a form of biomass.
  Some popular types of solid biomass fuel on the market:
  - Rice husk pellets
  - Wood pellets
  - Wood chips
  - Crushed rice husk
• Liquid form: Biomass can also be converted into liquid fuels such as methanol, and ethanol used in internal combustion engines.
• Gas form: Industrial waste treatment processes and wastewater treatment plants can produce biogas. In this process, bacteria decompose organic matter to produce biogas, mainly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane gas generated from this process can be collected and used as a biomass energy source.

4. Where does biomass energy come from?

Biomass energy is derived from renewable, organic, and highly renewable materials. Sources of biomass energy include:

• Agricultural residues: Includes residual by-products after each growing season, leftover, unused portions of crops, inedible portions of flowers post-harvest, residues of non-grain crops specialized for bioenergy production, grown for starch, sugar, oil extraction, and essence.
• Forestry and wood industry residues: Consists of tree stems, branches, trimmed branches, or sawdust, wood chips obtained after processing wood products. This biomass source is commonly used as fuel in industrial boilers.
• Livestock waste: Animal manure and sludge from barns are often used to be converted into gas or burned directly to produce heat, and generate energy. However, animal manure contains high levels of methane, which is harmful to human health.
• Industrial waste: Organic waste generated from various manufacturing processes, which may be in solid or liquid form. The majority comes from the food processing and paper production industries.
• Solid waste: Municipal solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional activities containing organic matter from plants, paper, cardboard, etc., is a large renewable resource. However, not all solid waste is suitable for biomass, especially metal.
• Sewage: Human and animal waste from urban areas provides a significant source of chemical energy. After being treated, animal waste generates methane gas and combustible biogas, which are used for heating and as fuel for combustion.

5. Advantages and limitations of biomass

5.1 Advantages of biomass

Biomass has been used for a long time, serving both life and production purposes. Below are some outstanding benefits when using biomass:

• Environmental protection: Biomass is an environmentally friendly fuel source that does not increase CO2 emissions when burned. Using biomass can protect the environment, increase the value of agricultural and forestry products, and save costs.
• Mitigating climate change: Climate change is the result of excessive use of fossil fuels, the emissions of these fuels into the atmosphere causing adverse climate phenomena such as the greenhouse effect and global warming. Using biomass in energy production is equivalent to reducing the use of fossil fuels, bringing many environmental benefits.
• Utilization of agricultural and forestry waste: With the development of agriculture and forestry, the amount of waste generated is increasing. This is also a plentiful source of biomass raw materials, helping to solve the waste problem while creating a large, cheap, and environmentally friendly resource.
• Sustainable energy: Biomass is a highly renewable biofuel and a bright spot for the future of the energy and environmental industry. Plants can be replanted and grown in a short period, without waiting for millions of years like in the case of oil or coal. This helps maintain a continuous supply of biomass without depleting natural resources.

Learn more about the benefits of using biomass energy

5.2 Limitations of Biomass

Although biomass brings benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing dependence on fossil fuels, businesses need to be prepared to face challenges in the fuel conversion process.

• Low energy density: Compared to fossil fuels, biomass usually has lower energy density, which can affect energy supply efficiency.
• Geographical dependence: The ability to supply biomass fuel depends on specific geographical regions due to differences in crop resources and climate. Therefore, the biomass fuel supply may fluctuate significantly depending on the geographic area.
• Requires professional systems: Using biomass requires specialized burning systems. This requires the design of modern boilers and burning technologies to ensure maximum efficiency and minimize environmental pollution.

6. Thuan Hai Leading in Biomass Production and Supply

Understanding the market trend towards developing clean energy sources, Thuan Hai has invested in building a chain of 10 biomass production plants supplying 1 million tons/year.

Thuan Hai's biomass plants are located in provinces such as Dong Thap, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Long An, Binh Phuoc, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Tay Ninh, and Dong Nai fully equipped with necessary machinery and equipment for serve high-intensity production activities, stable operation, efficiency, ensuring a continuous supply for customers nationwide.

Thuan Hai primarily sources biomass production materials from the Mekong Delta provinces: An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho - areas with strengths in rice cultivation, utilizing agricultural waste resources, helping farmers have additional income, and participating in creating sustainable environmental value.