The current energy crisis, depletion of fossil fuels, and global climate change have made it imperative to find alternative sources of energy that are both economically sustainable and environmentally friendly. Here we review various pathways for converting biomass into bioenergy and biochar and their applications in producing electricity, biodiesel, and biohydrogen. Biomass can be converted into biofuels using different methods, including biochemical and thermochemical conversion methods. Determining which approach is best relies on the type of biomass involved, the desired final product, and whether or not it is economically sustainable. Biochemical conversion methods are currently the most widely used for producing biofuels from biomass, accounting for approximately 80% of all biofuels produced worldwide. Ethanol and biodiesel are the most prevalent biofuels produced via biochemical conversion processes. Thermochemical conversion is less used than biochemical conversion, accounting for approximately 20% of biofuels produced worldwide. Bio-oil and syngas, commonly manufactured from wood chips, agricultural waste, and municipal solid waste, are the major biofuels produced by thermochemical conversion. Biofuels produced from biomass have the potential to displace up to 27% of the world's transportation fuel by 2050, which could result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3.7 billion metric tons per year. Biochar from biomass can yield high biodiesel, ranging from 32.8% to 97.75%, and can also serve as an anode, cathode, and catalyst in microbial fuel cells with a maximum power density of 4346 mW/m². Biochar also plays a role in catalytic methane decomposition and dry methane reforming, with hydrogen conversion rates ranging from 13.4% to 95.7%. Biochar can also increase hydrogen yield by up to 220.3%.

当前的能源危机、化石燃料的枯竭和全球气候变化使得寻找经济上可持续且环境友好的替代能源势在必行。在这里，我们回顾了将生物质转化为生物能源和生物炭的各种途径及其在生产电力、生物柴油和生物氢方面的应用。生物质可以使用不同的方法转化为生物燃料，包括生化和热化学转化方法。确定哪种方法最好取决于所涉及的生物质类型、所需的最终产品以及其在经济上是否可持续。生化转化方法目前是利用生物质生产生物燃料最广泛使用的方法，约占全球生产的所有生物燃料的80%。乙醇和生物柴油是通过生化转化过程生产的最普遍的生物燃料。热化学转化的使用量低于生化转化，约占全球生产的生物燃料的 20%。生物油和合成气通常由木片、农业废物和城市固体废物制成，是通过热化学转化生产的主要生物燃料。到 2050 年，由生物质生产的生物燃料有可能取代全球 27% 的运输燃料，从而每年减少高达 37 亿吨的温室气体排放。来自生物质的生物炭可以产生高生物柴油，范围为32.8%至97.75%，还可以作为微生物燃料电池的阳极、阴极和催化剂，最大功率密度为4346 mW/m² . 生物炭还在催化甲烷分解和干甲烷重整方面发挥作用，氢气转化率在13.4%至95.7%之间。生物炭还可以将氢气产量提高高达 220.3%。