An Integrated Waste-Free Biomass Utilization System for an Increased Productivity of Biofuel and Bioenergy

The increase in production and utilization of biomass and other renewable sources of energy are important challenges of the energy industry. It generates, however, demands for ecologically and economically acceptable production systems. Here we report an integrated system of known and new technologies developed for biomass conversion to biofuels. This includes classical and biobutanol based new biodiesels, biogas and electricity production, and an agricultural production system involving fertilization with the ash of the biomass power plants. Basically, three types of agricultural production system are needed for the agricultural segment of the integrated system, namely: A – plants for combustion in biomass power plants (energy grass) B – plants for production of vegetable oils for biodiesel production C – plants for conversion of sugar derivatives to price alcohols, mainly butanol as a diesel fuel source Depending on the climate, the soil type, the agricultural experiences, and the type of the plants (A,B,C), the produced biomass materials can fulfill more than one requirement as it can be seen in Fig. 1. Depending on the constituents of the biomass (cellulose, starch, lignin, oil, proteins), the energy production can be performed via direct combustion or, after digestion in biogas systems, by using the biogas. The biomass power plants, biogas combustion plants/engines produce hot water, steam and electricity. In plants type B soybean, rape, sunflower or likes are pressed to obtain the oil, while the pressing cake can be used as optimal raw material for biogas plants due to its high protein content, while the