The biomass properties have significant effects on the product compositions (through conservation of mass) and the gasification conditions (corrosion, slagging, etc.). Biomass includes any form of non-fossilized and biodegradable material derived from living species, such as plants and animals. The term “biomass” designates a very wide spectrum of substances, which includes products, byproducts, residues, and wastes from industries (forestry, agricultural, food, etc.) and municipalities [1, 2]. Each type of biomass is characterized by its specific physical and chemical properties: moisture, heating value, bulk density, chemical composition as well as ash and volatile contents. The biomass properties determine its performance as a fuel in gasification or any other process. Furthermore, the availability of the types of biomass as well as their properties is a function of a geographical location.

One of the most available biomass is wood, but it is a valuable material due to its current applications as a construction material. Wood residues (sawdust, bark, and misshapen pieces), however, have very little market value and are therefore prime candidates to be used as gasification feedstock. Other types of industrial residues (agricultural, forestry, etc.) could also be used as feedstock: husks from rice, coffee or coconut, bagasse from sugar cane, and verge grass. Energy cropping, such as poplar, sugar cane, and sweet sorghum, which consists of growing biomass specifically for fuels, is also another interesting possibility in renewable energy and the agricultural sector.