1

BIOFUEL: The types and advantages

of renewable energy

CONTENTS

Introduction


Technology and the
industrial process


Advances to the
Production Processes


Benefits to Society


Conclusion


Sources

Introduction

In 2015, an average of 140 billion gallons of non-renewable gasoline
and 63 billion gallons of non-renewable diesel fuel was used in the U.S. alone.
To decrease this non-renewable energy source, the world has shifted their
research efforts to develop several types of biofuels. Biofuel is fuel produced
from live feedstock, or biomass, such as corn ethanol. Many organizations
such as the EPA and the Renewable Fuels Agency are working towards
lowering these annual gas consumptions and increasing our dependence on
renewable energy, in this case, biofuels.

In order to get to the usage of these biofuels, the manufacturing and
effectiveness of these fuels must be refined. There are several types of biofuels
that are produced using different techniques. Along with this, the cost of each
biofuel is varying. In this article, I will review the two main types of biofuels
along with their production advances and potential benefits to society.

Technology and the Industrial Process

Two main types:

o Bioethanol
o Biodiesel

Bioethanol
The most common type of biofuel90% of total biofuel usage

Feedstock Bioethanol is derived from different parts of several
plants. Cereal cropswheat, oats, barley, etc.sugar cane, sugar
beets and potatoes are of the main sources of sugars for the
production of bioethanol.

Wheat

Sugar Cane
Potato

Process Sugars from these biomasses are extracted either through
the enzymatic conversion of starchy material or hydrolysis
chemically breaking down a compound through reaction with water
of cellulose and hemicellulose. These sugars are then fermented and
distilled to yield usable fuel.

Biodiesel

FeedstockBiodiesel is produced from oil seed crops. Oilseed crops are plants that have a high amount
of oil in their seeds. Many plants have large oil contents that can be used in the production of biodiesel.
Sunflower and canola seeds, for instance, have a roughly 40% oil composition compared to wheat which
contains only 1 2 %. Four of the most widely used feedstock for biodiesel are:
1. Sunflower seeds
2. Soy seeds
3. Palm oil seeds
4. Rapeseeds (canola)


ProcessThe oil from these seeds is extracted mechanically or chemically. The extracted oils are then
trans-esterified to produce a glycerol co-product. These products are then mixed with fossil diesel to
produce usable fuel with out any modifications necessary to your engines.

Advances to the Production Processes

Bioethanol Production Advances
Advances to the bioethanol production have been made to include lingo-cellulosic compounds as
feedstock. The inclusion of these compounds as feedstock would expand to use amount and range of
crops usable to produce bioethanol. This range would expand to include materials such as cellulosic
wastes, food-processing wastes and fast-growing crops.

Biodiesel Production Advances

Researchers have sought out new limits in the hopes of replacing the methanol, used for biodiesel
production, and obtained from fossils by fatty acids derived from bioethanol. Along with this advances,
efforts are being made to also replace the need for fossil material by recycled materials such as cooking
oils and animal fats.

3
Benefits to Society
Benefits from All Biofuels

Estimates have been made that combine bioethanol and biodiesel could meet up to 13 % of the worlds
transport fuel needed. This would significantly reduced the amount of fossil fuels reduction global
transportation emission about 6%.

Benefits Specifically from Bioethanol

Bioethanol has been proven to have high-octane ratings, creating smooth starts for spark ignition
engines. In addition to this, the oxygen group in ethanol has a low combustion temperature reducing CO
(carbon monoxide) and NO (nitric oxide) emissions.

Benefits Specifically from Biodiesel

This is the fastest produced biofuel in the world, largely due to the feedstock being primary composed of
fast-growing crops. The fuel produced from biodiesel emits a high combustion in diesel engines with
significantly lower particulates and sulfuric emissions

Conclusion

The world as we see it now, is burningquite literallythrough our fossil fuel resources. In order to
prevent us from using up all of this precious natural resource, resources with high capacities and
environmental-friendly qualities must be sought as substitutes. Bioethanol and biodiesel have shown
impeccable capability of reducing the need for fossil fuels and reducing the emissions caused by the
burning of fossil fuels.
Although we have not reached the point at which we can use either biofuel as full-substitute, research
advances are being done to continue maximizing the quality and efficiency of these biofuels to someday
reduce the spending of Earths limited fossil fuel resource.

4
Sources:

1https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/essentials2.pdf
2https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/re-biofuels.html
3http://www.c2es.org/technology/overview/biofuels
4http://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2015/06/17/why-biofuels-cant-replace-
oil/#7151f0af362b