Biomass classification and characterization for conversion to biofuels

Currently, owing to global increasing concern toward energy security and its environmental consequences, biomass has been promoted as an important resource to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by its conversion to biofuels. In this chapter, an overview of the composition, properties, and availability of various biomass resources, particularly the energy crops and underutilized marginal crops, are discussed. It is complicated to classify biomass due to its broad system, but it could be categorized according to its original compositions, source, and possible conversion technology. This provides proper information on the biomass biopolymeric composition in order to understand its potential to be converted through several pathways including physiochemical, biochemical, or thermochemical routes to produce heat, electricity, or biofuels in an environmentally benign utilization.