Processing and Conversion

The Office of the Biomass Program focuses its research and development efforts in converting biomass into fuels, products, and power via two biochemical and thermochemical routes.

Biomass to Biofuels supply chain diagram with red highlight of biofuels production segment. Feedstock production (photo of two men in a field of switchgrass) leads to feedstock logistics (photo of combine harvester in corn field), which leads to biofuels production (photo of biorefinery), which leads to biofuels distribution (photo of fuel pump for E85), which leads to biofuels end use (photo of car).

Biochemical Conversion - Biomass is broken down to sugars using either enzymatic or chemical processes and then converted to ethanol via fermentation.

Thermochemical Conversion - Biomass is broken down to intermediates using heat and upgraded to fuels using a combination of heat and pressure in the presence of catalysts.

These R&D efforts focus on technologies and processes that can reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of producing biofuels, products, and power. Efficiencies can be achieved through methods for increasing the yields derived from conversion of various feedstocks, among other improvements. The majority of the Biomass Program's R&D is focused on these technologies. Current R&D projects are described in detail in this website's Information Resources section.