5.4.5 (Biomass Energy as Renewable Energy)

Question 1

Biomass Energy

Answer 1

renewable organic material that comes from plants and animal

Question 2

Biomass Energy

Drawback (think about what happens when biomass products combust to create what?)

Answer 2

Air pollution is released when biomass products combust (burn) to generate electricity

biomass: renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals

Question 3

Benefit (think about what is being sequestered when burning biomass to make ___?)

Answer 3

Carbon is sequestered (hidden) when burning biomass to make biochar

Question 4

Benefit about making ethanol?

Answer 4

NO carbon is produced when fermenting biomass to make ethanol (biofuel)

Question 5

Example (think harvesting)

Answer 5

Crops (wheat, corn, soy, sugar)

Question 6

Example 2?

Answer 6

Wood

Question 7

Example (think decomposed animals)

Answer 7

Manure (animal feces and urine)

Question 8

Example (think gas)

Answer 8

Landfill gas

Question 9

Example (think plants)

Answer 9

Algae

Question 10

This starting material for alternative fuels requires a lot of land

Answer 10

crops (corn)

Question 11

These 2 atoms that biomass is composed of make it organic matter

Answer 11

Carbon and Hydrogen

Question 12

This is the name of the process that creates ethanol used for fuel

Answer 12

fermentation

yeast undergo with no oxygen (O2) that produces ethyl alcohol (ethanol) instead of CO2

Question 13

This is the name of the type of biomass used as an alternative to coal

Answer 13

biochar

Question 14

This is the organism used for fuel because of its fatty/oily composition

Answer 14

algae

Question 15

Biochar

Answer 15

• created by heating biomass to about 200 degrees Celsius w/out oxygen
• sequesters carbon instead of releasing it as methane and carbon dioxide

Question 16

Syngas

Answer 16

• “synthetic” gas made from biomass, which can be used to power a turbine
• created by heating biomass to about 700 degrees Celsius

Question 17

Biofuels

Answer 17

Biofuels are made by fermenting (breaking down) high-carbohydrate materials such as sugar cane, wheat, and corn.

Question 18

Disadvantage of biomass?

Answer 18

• not easy to replenish
• burning releases CO2

Question 19

Benefit (think crops)

Answer 19

Biomass materials
are plentiful (crops)

Question 20

algal fuel

Answer 20

Algal fuel is derived from algae, which is grown in ocean water. It does not deplete freshwater or soil resources.

Question 21

How is organic material converted into biomass?

Answer 21

• Organic material is burned to generate heat that can be converted into electricity.
• Before biomass is burned, it must be dried.