The issue of energy crisis associated with the depletion of fossil
fuels reserves and increasing market price of oil and gas has provided
strong motivations for the extensive quest for alternative
renewable energy sources. Among various alternative renewable
energy sources, biomass utilization makes the best attractive
option as it can be converted into liquid, solid and gaseous products,
from which fuels and fine value-added chemicals can be
derived [1]. Besides, biomass utilization is carbon neutral as it does
not emit additional greenhouse gases, NOx and SOx into the atmosphere
[2]. Hence, harnessing the energy stored in the biomass
would require energy efficient and cost effective conversion technologies
[3].