Biomass Chemistry

Biomass-to-renewable energy processes involve the synthesis or breakdown of organic compounds that constitute different types of biomass. These organic compounds range in their complexity and contain numerous functional groups that in uence the ultimate structure and chemistry of biomass. Familiarity with these organic compounds and their functional groups is important in understanding and developing biological and chemical processes that convert biomass into renewable energy and valueadded products. This chapter summarizes relevant concepts from organic and carbohydrate chemistry followed by a discussion of the structure and chemistry of different types of biomass.