Environmental and Chemical Processes

Combustion is the most common method of converting biomass into energy, involving the burning of organic matter to release heat and produce electricity.

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into liquid fuels, such as bio-oil, through heating in the absence of oxygen.

Gasification is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into gaseous fuels, such as syngas, through heating in the presence of a controlled amount of oxygen.

Torrefaction is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into solid fuels, such as biochar, through heating in the absence of oxygen at lower temperatures compared to pyrolysis.

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that converts organic matter into biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, through the action of microorganisms in the absence of oxygen.

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into bio-oil, a liquid fuel, through heating in the absence of oxygen.

Refining is the process of extracting valuable materials from electronic waste.

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials or products.

Abiogenesis is the process by which organic molecules are formed from inorganic precursors. It is thought to have occurred on early Earth through a series of chemical reactions that were driven by energy sources such as lightning, volcanic eruptions, and hydrothermal vents.

Self-assembly is the process by which organic molecules assemble into more complex structures, such as cells. It is thought to have occurred on early Earth through a series of spontaneous chemical reactions that were driven by the laws of thermodynamics.

Bioremediation is the process of using microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and plants, to remove or transform pollutants from the environment. These microorganisms can break down and convert pollutants into harmless or less harmful substances.

Bioaugmentation is a type of bioremediation that involves the introduction of specific microorganisms into a contaminated site to enhance the biodegradation of pollutants. These microorganisms are typically selected for their ability to break down specific organic compounds.

Landfarming is an ex situ bioremediation technique that involves the spreading of contaminated soil or sludge on a prepared land surface. The pollutants are then degraded and transformed by microorganisms present in the soil.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) refers to technologies that aim to capture carbon dioxide from transportation sources and store it underground or utilize it for other purposes.

Resource conservation refers to the practices and policies aimed at reducing the use of resources and materials.