Wednesday, April 21, 2021

What are Biofuels?

Biofuels are transportation fuels derived from renewable sources such as plants and animals.

When burned, biofuels release CO2 with no net carbon emissions

There are many types of biofuels in development.



John David Kaweske, chairman and CEO of Bio Clean Energy S.A, indicates that solid, liquid or gaseous fuels produced from biomass are called biofuels. Biofuels are renewable and good substitutes for fossil fuels. Most of the biofuels available on the market today are made from plants. They are often used as transportation fuels.

According to John David Kaweske, certain plants are being cultivated specifically for the production of biofuels. In the United States, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), soybeans, and corn are important sources of biofuel. Brazil uses sugar cane, while Europe processes beets and wheat. Other agricultural products that are transformed into biofuels are cassava and sorghum in China, miscanthus and palm oil in Southeast Asia, and jatropha in India.

Some examples of biofuels are biodiesel, bioalcohols (bioethanol, biomethanol, biobutanol), biogas, synthesis gas and solid biofuels such as wood, charcoal and sawdust. Among the countries that have strongly promoted the development and use of biofuels are Brazil, the United States, France, Sweden and Germany.

 

Types of biofuels

Biofuels are classified into three groups: first generation, second generation and third generation.

First-generation biofuels are produced using conventional technology that uses sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats as sources. Since its raw materials are also sources of food, the “food vs. fuels ”is a major issue within first generation fuels.

The production of first generation biofuels has limitations because it could threaten the food supply and biodiversity. To meet the growing demand for biofuels, second generation biofuels were developed. These second-generation biofuels are produced from non-food crops or portions of food crops that are inedible and considered waste, including stems, pods, wood chips and fruit peels.

According to experts, such as John David Kaweske, second-generation biofuels generate greater savings in greenhouse gas emissions than first-generation biofuels. However, the production of second generation biofuels is more complicated because it involves the extraction of useful raw materials from woody or fibrous biomass.

John David Kaweske indicates that the third generation of biofuels corresponds to those that are produced from algae. The production of oil or fuel from algae involves the fermentation of the carbohydrate of the algae.

Second and third generation biofuels are also known as advanced biofuels. An example of an advanced biofuel that is still in development is hydrogenation-derived renewable diesel (HDRD). HDRD is produced from animal fats or vegetable oils that have been refined in oil refineries. This fuel can mix with oil.

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