Biofuels Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz

fuels derived from biomass (organic materials). In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80% renewable materials The term covers solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases. Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. What is a biofuel?

Biofuels are gaining increased public and scientific attention. Factors: Need for increase energy security Concern over greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuels Are portable and clean burning Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Biofuels

Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Bioethanol production

Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Biodiesel production

Made from: – Sugar – Starch – Vegetable oil – Animal fat Basic feedstocks: – Seeds and grains Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels

Why is it controversial? Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels

The use of this feedstocks in producing biofuels has been criticised for diverting food away from the human food chain, leading to food shortages and price rises Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels

Major feedstock Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G.

Produced by the action of microorganisms and enzymes through the fermentation of sugars or starches Sugars are obtained from wheat, corn, sugar beets, sugar cane Most common: ethanol Also: propanol and butanol Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels Bioalcohols

Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G.

Sustainable development 2012 Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Taboga

Edible oil is generally not used as a fuel Lower quality oil is used It is processed into biodiesel or (more rarely) used directly as a fuel Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels Vegetable oil Biodiesel is typically made by a chemical reaction (transesterification) : lipids + alcohol = fatty acid esters (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat) Biodiesel

Feedstock: Oils: e.g. canola, algae, jatropha and salicornia Use traditional fractional distillation to process the oils Do not confuse it with biodiesel (chemical reaction) First-generation biofuels Green diesel

It is methane produced by the process of anaerobic digestion of organic material: biodegradable waste materials energy crops – feed anaerobic digesters The solid (or liquid) byproduct, digestate, can be used as a fertilizer Farmers can produce biogas from manure from their cows by getting a anaerobic digester (AD) Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels Biogas /Daijesteit/

Sustainable development 2012 Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels Biogas Organic fertilizer Organic fertilizer Gas. E.g. kitchen Gas. E.g. kitchen Turbine and generator: electricity Turbine and generator: electricity

Examples: – Wood – Sawdust – grass trimmings – domestic refuse – Charcoal – agricultural waste – non-food energy crops – dry manure. When raw biomass is already in a suitable form (such as firewood), it can burn directly in a stove or furnace to provide heat or raise steam Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. First-generation biofuels Solid biofuel

Fisrt generation biofuels Made from sugar and vegetable oils Easily extracted using conventional technology Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Second generation biofuels Made from lignocellulosic biomas or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste Makes it harder to extract the requiered fuel FOOD NO FOOD

Use modern and proven green chemical technologies including pyrolysis, Fisher Tropsch, and other catalytic processes, in order to produce biofuels Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Second generation biofuels

Some microoganism in some insects species Some microoganism in some insects species Gliocladium roseum Production of myco- diesel from cellulose. Was discovered in Patagonia Has the unique capability of converting cellulose into medium length hydrocarbons typically found in diesel fuel. Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Second generation biofuels RESEARCH!

It is fuel from algae Algae are low-input, high- yield feedstocks to produce biofuels. Algae can produces up to 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans But these yields have yet to be produced commercially. Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Third generation biofuels

GMOs GM Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) farnesene synthase from the plant Artemisia annua Commercial production of hydrocarbon farnesene (C15H24) Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G.

GMOs GM Algae Oil Production Biofuels Food Cosmetics Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G.

GMOs Confined areas Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G.

Good option to produce cleaner energy Controversy still exist More research and technology is needed to produce second and third generation biofuels Sustainable development Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Biofuels

Harrison-Dillon-Res;search%3Abiotechnology Harrison-Dillon-Res;search%3Abiotechnology ey-Bilal-Bom;search%3Aalgae%20fuel ey-Bilal-Bom;search%3Aalgae%20fuel Sustainable development 2012 Prof. Melania Muñoz G. Third generation biofuels