Biomass

Biography

Biography: Longyu Zheng

Abstract

Fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation are twin crises confronted by all mankind. Thus, considerable amount of studies have been promoted to develop clean and renewable alternative energies, achieving a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development. In this context, bioconversion of waste biomass has been found to be a good way to recover the hidden energy. Certain insects especially some saprophagous species such as Hermetia illucens, Musca domestica in Diptera and Tenebrio molitor in Coleoptera, can be used to degrade organic waste, including animal manure, food waste, municipal waste, lignocelluloses, and other bio-solids; an economically viable insect biomass rich in fat and protein could be produced and further processed into biodiesel and animal feed. Properties of insect derived biodiesel have been shown comparable to rapeseed biodiesel and other vegetable oil biodiesel. Insect fat could serve as a promising low cost and non-food feedstock for biodiesel. Furthermore, insect-based conversion of waste biomass does not require large land or waster areas when compared to energy crops and other forms of bioenergy materials such as microalgae. A union of insects and microbes could further improve the current artificial mass breeding system of insects, enhance the processing capacity of the waste management system, and increase the final insect biomass yields, making waste-to-energy more feasible.