Biomass Energy Multiple Choice Questions on “Biomass Resources”.
1. Which of the following can be classified under solid biomass?
a) Agricultural residues
b) Waste water
c) Industrial effluents into rivers
d) Plastic
Answer: a
Clarification: Agricultural residues can be classified under solid biomass resource. Waste water and polluted rivers are not solids. Plastic is not a biomass.
2. What are energy crops?
a) Crops grown to remove insects
b) Crops grown to be used in generating energy
c) Crops grown to feed people
d) Crops that produce energy
Answer: b
Clarification: Energy crops are crops that are grown with the specific intention to generate energy. They don’t produce energy by themselves but they are used to generate energy or serve as fuel. Eg. – bioethanol.
3. Which of the following are examples of energy crops?
a) Banyan
b) Mango
c) Herbaceous and woody
d) Apple and herbaceous
Answer: c
Clarification: Herbaceous and woody crops are examples of energy crops. Like agricultural crops are grown to feed, energy crops are grown specifically to be used as an energy resource.
4. What are herbaceous crops?
a) Insecticides
b) Rice
c) Agricultural fertilizers
d) Agricultural byproducts
Answer: d
Clarification: Herbaceous crops are plants that do not have much wood and has green and soft stems. Generally, they are agricultural byproducts like columbine. Sometimes, crops like potatoes are solely grown to produce energy.
5. Which of the following are examples of woody biomass?
a) Fallen trees due to natural disasters
b) Mint
c) Columbine
d) Agricultural byproducts
Answer: a
Clarification: Woody biomass are basically forestry byproducts, by product of management and restoration of forests, etc. Fallen trees due to a natural disaster is an example of woody biomass. Other examples are leaves, trunks, etc.
6. Which of the following are examples of lipids?
a) Sugar
b) Palm oil
c) Glucose
d) Cellulose
Answer: b
Clarification: Palm oil is an example of lipids. Other examples are soybean oil, rapeseed oil, wax, animal fat, etc. Glucose is an example of sugar.
7. Which of the following can be used to replenish nutrients in soil?
a) Steel
b) Soda
c) Biomass ash
d) Coal ash
Answer: c
Clarification: Biomass ash can be used as a soil amendment to help replenish nutrients. Coal ash cannot be used for the same because it contains toxic metals. Steel and soda are not used to replenish soil’s nutrients.
8. Which of the following is an example of short rotation coppice?
a) Maize
b) Wheat
c) Corn
d) Willow
Answer: d
Clarification: Willow is an example of short rotation coppice (SRC). It is a forestry residue. Corn, maize and wheat are examples of herbaceous crops.
9. Algae are used as feedstocks for bioenergy.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Algae are used as feedstocks for bioenergy. They use sunlight to create biomass containing key components like lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. They include microalgae, macroalgae like seaweed and cyanobacteria or blue-green algae.
10. Which of the following found in municipal waste can be used as biomass?
a) Agricultural residue
b) Kitchen waste
c) Residential garbage
d) Plastic covers
Answer: b
Clarification: Kitchen waste can be used as a resource for biomass. Residential garbage and plastic covers cannot be used directly. Agricultural residue is not found in municipal waste.
11. Land fill is an example of wet waste.
a) False
b) True
Answer: b
Clarification: Land fill is an example of wet waste. It consists of residential wastes, industrial wastes and other wastes from sewage. It also consists of manure in the form of animal wastes.
12. __________ wastes are used as methane boosters.
a) Agricultural
b) Forestry
c) Industrial
d) Municipal
Answer: c
Clarification: Many industrial wastes are used as methane boosters due to their extremely high methane potential. Agricultural, municipal and forestry wastes are not suitable for methane boosters.
13. __________ biomass is used for waste water treatment.
a) Agricultural
b) Industrial
c) Municipal
d) Aquatic
Answer: d
Clarification: Aquatic biomass in the form of micro-organisms are used for waste water treatment. They operate in anaerobic environment during the treatment.
14. Which of the following parameters is used to define sustainability of biogas feedstock?
a) Heating value
b) Calorific value
c) C:N ratio
d) Thermal voltage
Answer: c
Clarification: Carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio is one of the most important parameters used to talk about the sustainability of the biogas feedback. Heating and calorific value are parameters to describe the available fuel in a given biomass.
15. Which of the following is not a biomass resource?
a) Animal wastes
b) Forestry residue
c) Agricultural residue
d) Sunlight
Answer: d
Clarification: Sunlight is not a biomass resource. Animal wastes, forestry residue and agricultural residue are biomass resources. They are used to generate energy either by combustion or bio-chemical processes.