Biomass-based Energy and Water Systems: Conversion Pathways, Sorption Applications, AI Integration, and Industrial Perspectives

Abstract

Biomass, an abundant yet underutilized waste resource, offers immense potential as a sustainable energy source to meet global needs for heating, cooling, and clean water. This review critically examines the evolution of biomass utilization—from traditional combustion systems to modern adsorption- and absorption-based cooling and atmospheric water harvesting technologies. Statistical insights on biomass availability, in-situ burning, and associated pollutant emissions from global and regional perspectives highlight the environmental urgency of efficient biomass management. The review also evaluates the current research landscape through bibliometric mapping and VOSviewer-based network visualization, revealing trends and interconnections within the field. A key focus is given to the development of green sorbents synthesized from diverse biomass sources, demonstrating strong potential for improved energy efficiency, sustainability, and recyclability. Importantly, the review establishes a feedstock-to-function linkage, where waste biomass is converted into both thermal energy and value-added carbonaceous materials that enable sorption-based cooling and water harvesting applications. A prospective technological roadmap is presented to illustrate the transition from conventional biomass utilization toward advanced and integrated systems. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is discussed through a structured framework to support performance prediction, optimization, and sustainability assessment. However, the review also highlights the current limitations related to large-scale validation, long-term performance, and system-level deployment. Additionally, challenges related to the low density and heterogeneous nature of biomass are analyzed, highlighting directions for future research and innovation. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6, 7, 12, and 13, this review provides a comprehensive perspective that bridges technological, environmental, and industrial insights, serving as a valuable reference for advancing sustainable and circular energy systems.