{"id":3816,"key":"Biofuel","title":"Biofuel","latest":{"id":1211512,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T13:57:04Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Topic notice}}\n\n[[File:Algae biofuel tubes.jpg|thumb|[[Algae fuel|Algae biofuel tubes]]]]\n\n'''Biofuel''' is a term used to describe [[fuel]] sources that are derived from easily regeneratable [[Biomass|animal or plant-based resources]]. Biofuels are categorically different from fossil fuels, as biofuel production is not based on the anaerobic decomposition of buried organic matter. Furthermore, fossil fuel deposits take millions of year to form and are a naturally occurring phenomenon while resources for biofuel production are usually considered renewable and are typically representative of the bi-product from some other production process. Biofuels are thus a form of closed-loop recycling [[WikiPedia:recycling|recycling]], as the waste product from some production process is re-appropriated in to fuel for the process itself. It should be noted that although biofuels vary greatly in nature from fossil fuels, they are both a form of indirect [[solar energy]]; the initial energetic input stored in these fuels originated from the sun and was captured via terrestrial primary production processes, or photosynthesis.\n\nBiofuels can be divided in to two categories of first-generation and second-generation:\n\n* '''First generation''' describes biofuels that are derived from the edible parts of plants. A consideration associated with this form of biofuel is that large-scale production involves the mass cultivation of crops (such as maize) that could be otherwise be inputted into the global food system. Valuable resources such as arable land are thus prioritized for fuel production, rather than food production.\n* '''Second generation''' describes biofuels that are derived from non-edible parts of plants, such as woody stems, branches, etc.<ref>also called cellulosic alcohol</ref> or from fruits that are not a part of the human diet. A benefit associated with second generation biofuels is that, unlike first generation processes, production is not inversely related to global food system production. Second-generation biofuel can be further divided in 2+ generation-biofuels and 2++ generation-biofuels\n** '''2+ generation-biofuel''' production involves no use of arable land at all for energy production (i.e. [[algae fuel]])\n** '''2++ generation-biofuel''' production involves no use of arable land at all for energy production and no air pollution (this still occurs with the other biofuels, although there are no carbon emissions). (i.e. biohydrogen)\n\n== Background ==\n\n[[File:Biodigester CFD.JPG|thumb|Fixed dome digester.]]\n\nResidual [[biomass]] can be re-appropriated without any primary treatment processes (i.e. the use of solid biomass) or be converted into various non-solid fuel forms; these forms are referred to as [[biogas]] and liquid biofuel. The purpose of such refinement processes is to improve the quality, specific energy content, transportability, etc., of the raw biomass source. It also allows for the capture of gases, which would otherwise be released in to the atmosphere, during natural biomass degradation processes. An example of this is the release of methane from anaerobic digestion in biomass waste or stockpiles.<ref>Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from biomass waste stockpiles. BTG biomass technology group BV, 2002.</ref> These two forms of biofuel differ in there uses and applications; for example primary uses of biogas include cooking and lighting in a number of countries. On the other hand, development in liquid biofuel production has been driven by an ever-increasing societal need to displace fossil fuels as the default fuel source.\n\nWithin the context of acknowledged and growing anthropogenic impact on the global energy system, there has been notable movement towards cultivation of energy crops specifically for the production of biomass-derived fuel. These developments are taking place globally, across Europe, the United States as well as in several developing countries; as the human population continues to accelerate towards both complete extraction of fossil fuels, as well as catastrophic atmospheric CO2 levels, the need for integrated energy supply options has become increasingly overt. This need for supplementary and renewable fuel sources has thus catalyzed development of biofuel technology and will furthermore be the basis for which biomass re-appropriation will reach its full potential as an energy source.\n\nIn the following sections, a number of liquid biofuel forms will be outlined as well as their applications, and the conversion technologies used to derive them.\n\n== Environmental Considerations ==\n\nThere are two primary points of environmental concern, in relation to biomass-based energy derivation. The first point of concern is the potential for poor land management practices that are so often associated with any type fuel production. Examples of potential degrading production processes include large-scale implementation of mono-crops and the use of various chemical compounds to stimulate growth. Considerations specific to biofuel crop harvesting include the removal of plant residual material that would otherwise be broken down and increase the organic matter contentions and can furthermore contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through losses of soil carbon.<ref>The State of Food and Agriculture. United Nations, 2008</ref>\n\nHowever, land degradation and deforestation that could potentially be fostered by production of biofuels can be circumvented via cohesive and regulated land management policy. Furthermore, integration of non-conventional farming methodology, such as [[Permaculture|companion planting]], [[Integrated pest management|IPM]] and conservation tillage into biofuel production policy could further reduce the potential for negative environmental impact associated with modern large-scale agricultural practices.\n\nThe second point of concern relates to the inversal nature of first generation fuel production and food production. This relationship was noted in the pervious sections. It arguable that such prioritization is not necessary, as much of the biomass requirement for energy production can be met through the re-appropriation of production bi-products (waste) or food industry residual material; you will remember that this form of biofuel is referred to as second generation. Policy infrastructure should thus be created with this consideration in mind, and limit the degree to which arable land and other production inputs can be employed for first generation biofuel production. Benefits to this limitation are two-fold, as it prevents undue stress on the environment related to biofuel production and restricts the degree to which this production can be prioritized over food production. For a more in depth outline of appropriate policy infrastructure, see.<ref>Negussie, A., Verbist, B.J.P. & Muys, B. (2014). Invasiveness prospects of Biofuels: avoid invasiveness threat of novel tropical biofuel crops. KLIMOS-Policy Brief 7, KLIMOS, Leuven.</ref>\n\nThe use of [https://www.appropedia.org/wiki/File:Oil_crops.png crops that are native to the region] can also provide part of the answer. In addition to this, the exact place (and the current use of the location -ie food production, CO<sub>2</sub> already locked in the soil,...) where the crops are planted also matters. According to Wouter Achten of KU Leuven, biofuel-crops are best planted in CO<sub>2</sub>-poor soils and which are currently not used for agriculture. The first is for obvious reasons: by requiring the farmer to fertilise the soil with CO<sub>2</sub> he locks away part of the CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmosphere. The downside however is that extra fertilisation (and thus an increased cost) is required. The second is for less obvious reasons: if the land is used for agriculture, the crops that were planted need to be relocated. This could mean that there is an extra CO<sub>2</sub>-cost in transport (crops need to be transported further). This is known as ILUC.\n\nLocalised decentralised biofuel production from feedstock grown using sustainable agricultural practices been shown to offer part of a sustainable energy portfolio. A good example is for example [[rapeseed]]. This crop creates both biofuel (oil) as animal feed (the rest of the plant).\n\nWith the recent global call to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, there is a strong case for promoting the use of sustainable biomass-to-energy technologies worldwide. Using modern technology, enormous reductions can be made in carbon dioxide emissions, particularly if liquid biofuels are used to replace their fossil-based equivalents. In fact, if biomass energy production is done on a sustainable basis, there is little net carbon dioxide addition to the environment.\n\nThere are other environmental concerns related to each fuel that need to be kept in mind, such as toxic emissions and production of tars and soots.<ref>Anderson, T., Doig, A., Rees, D. and Khennas, S., Rural Energy Services: A handbook for sustainable energy development. ITDG Publishing, 1999.</ref><ref>Ravindranath, N. H. and Hall, D. O., Biomass, Energy and the Environment: A Developing Country Perspective from India. Oxford University Press, 1995.</ref><ref>Karekezi, S. and Ranja, T., Renewable Energy Technologies in Africa. AFREPEN, 1997.</ref><ref>Kristoferson L. A., and Bokalders V., Renewable Energy Technologies - their application in developing countries. ITDG Publishing, 1991.</ref><ref>Johansen, T.B. et al, Renewable Energy Sources for Fuels and Electricity. Island Press, Washington D.C., 1993.</ref>\n\n== Advantages and disadvantages ==\n\nBiofuels are not made from petroleum; not purchasing petroleum products allows you to avoid supporting business practices such as oil drilling that are harmful to the environment and human rights.\n\n[[WikiPedia:Pollution|Pollution]] is any byproduct that cannot be fed back into the closed-end system. For biofuels (except for biohydrogen), this includes particulates and unburnt hydrocarbons (smoke), oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and a few others. These are typically much lower level than when fossil fuels are combusted, but they remain a problem, particularly for the human health (ie may cause respiratory problems, certain cancers,...).\n\n[[Fuel|Zero-emissions fuels]] do not have this problem, yet are more difficult to use in practice, and are also more expensive.\n\nNote that what is pollution for one [[technology]] may be the biofuel in another. For example, if wood is heated anaerobically (with limited oxygen), it produces carbon monoxide, which is normally considered a pollutant, but if collected, can be burnt as a biofuel.<ref>[http://www.ecoreality.org/wiki/Biofuel Biofuel]</ref>\n\n== Types of biofuel ==\n\n=== First generation biofuels ===\n\n'First-generation (or conventional) biofuels' are biofuels made from substances in crops (ie sugar, starch, and vegetable oil) that can be used for human consumption. Due to this, the production of fuel from these crops effectively creates problems in regards to the global food production.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/biofuelgenocide/ziegler-jean Jean Ziegler calling first generation biofuels a crime against humanity]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issues_relating_to_biofuels Issues relating to first and some second generation biofuels]</ref>\n\n==== Solid biofuels ====\n\n'''Solid biofuels''' are plant parts from crops grown for direct combustion. It includes wood, sawdust, grass trimmings, [[charcoal]], agricultural waste, and dried manure. Some primary bio-energy feedstocks include industrial hemp, switchgrass and [[Miscanthus]]. They can be used as is or pressed into plates for easier incineration. Miscanthus or elephant grass generate a very high amount of dry matter.\n\n==== 1st generation bioalcohols ====\n\nThese include bio[[ethanol]], bio[[methanol]] and biobutanol. See [[Alcohols as fuel]].\n\n==== Biodiesel and green diesel ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Biodiesel}}\n\n==== Plant oils ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Plant oil as fuel}}\n\n=== Second generation biofuels ===\n\n'Second generation biofuels' are biofuels produced from made from substances in crops (ie cellulose) that can not be used for human consumption. Unlike first generation biofuels they do not create problems in regards to the global food production.\n\n==== Biogas ====\n\nSee [[biogas]]\n\n==== Syngas ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Syngas}}\n\n==== 2nd generation bioalcohols ====\n\nThis includes ie biobutanol, biomethanol, bioethanol made from fruits,... from crops that are not suitable to human consumption (ie poisonous crops) as well as cellulosic ethanol (ethanol made from woody plant parts (non-consumable plant parts of humanly edible crops) Woody plant parts can be converted to ethanol yet at present (2007 D.C.) it is not yet a economicly viable method.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/15-10/ff_plant Cellulosic Ethanol: One Molecule Could Cure Our Addiction to Oil], Evan Ratliff, ''Wired Magazine'' October 24, 2007</ref>\n\n==== Wood gas ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Wood gas as fuel}}\n\n==== Algae fuel ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Algae fuel}}\n\n==== Biohydrogen ====\n\n{{Excerpt|Hydrogen as fuel}}\n\n==== DMF ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|2,5-Dimethylfuran}}\n\n==== BioDME ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|Dimethyl ether}}\n\n==== Fischer-Tropsch diesel ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|Synthetic fuel}}\n\n==== Biohydrogen diesel ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|Biohydrogen}}\n\n==== Mixed alcohols ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|Bioconversion of biomass to mixed alcohol fuels|paragraphs=2}}\n\n==== Wood diesel ====\n\n{{Wikipedia excerpt|Wood diesel}}\n\n== Use ==\n\nWith most biofuels the incompatibility with available engines provides an additional barrier to the adoption as reliable operation requires expensive engine modifications. 'Flexi-fuel' engines are available in some regions, commonly spark ignition engines able to run straight petrol(US-gas) or petrol/ethanol blends. Additives (bio ethers) can be applied to fuels to improve their performance.\n\n=== Use in heat engines ===\n\nIt is possible to use biofuels in several heat engines, including internal combustion engines (diesel, gasoline) and Stirling engines. Reliability and performance of the engine will depend on:\n\n* biofuel material compatibility - the compatability of fuel system and engine components to the fuel\n* engine parameters: such as fuel delivery or spark timing, being optimised for the given fuel\n* a suitable maintenance regime\n\n==== Use in IC engines (diesel engines) ====\n\nIt is possible to use a wide range of liquid biofuels in a diesel engine, most commonly lipid based biofuels are used either in their pure form, [[plant oil]], or transesterified as [[biodiesel]]. [[Diesel engine fuel delivery]] can be altered to suit the fuel.\nSee also: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine]\n\n==== Use in IC engines (gasoline engine) ====\n\nSome liquid biofuels as ethanol can be used, oil-based biofuels can't be used though. Gases can also be used (ie [[wood gas]] (if filtered), [[biohydrogen]], [[biogas]] and pure [[methane]]) See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine]\n\n==== Use in Stirling engines ====\n\n[[Stirling engine]]s can use a wide range of biofuels, both liquid biofuels (oils, ethanol,...), solid biofuels (ie wood, seeds,...) and gas-based biofuels (ie wood gas (if filtered), biohydrogen, biogas, pure methane)\n\n==== Use in steam and fuel-powered turbines ====\n\n[[Fuel-powered turbine]]s can be run on liquid biofuels as oils, ethanol,... as well as some gas-based biofuels (ie biohydrogen, methane). Gas-based biofuels as wood gas and biogas are potentially also possible, but could give problems with fouling (due to tar,...) [[Steam turbine]]s (bladed-rotor, Tesla,...) can run on all biofuels (solid, liquid, and gas-based biofuels). Fouling isn't a problem here (as opposed to fuel-powered turbines) as the heater chamber is generally separated from the chamber housing the turbine blades. Steam turbines however do require an additional energy conversion (fuel to steam) meaning there is some additional energy loss. The incineration of the fuel can btw be done using a [[pulse jet engine]] to increase efficiency, and to decrease fouling in this separate heating chamber (although it isn't a big problem) even more.\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [[Wikipedia:Biofuel]]\n* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_natural_gas Wikipedia:Renewable Natural Gas]\n* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160410064548/http://obed.org.uk/ Open Biofuel Engine Development] - Collaborative biofuel engine tuning\n* [http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Projects.htm Builtitsolar; has info on making some biofuels]\n* Biofuel Bay - Biofuel primer and educational resource\n* Biofuel Debate Forum - Biofuel, Biodiesel and Bioenergy discussion forum\n* Trade Association: [https://americanbiogascouncil.org/ American Biogas Council] Subscribe to e-newsletter, [https://multibriefs.com/optin.php?abg American Biogas News]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| keywords = biofuel, fuel\n| ported-from = https://practicalaction.org\n| description = Biofuels offer alternatives to fossil fuels. Appropedia explores their types, uses, and environmental impact.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Transport]]\n[[Category:Renewable energy]]\n[[Category:Biofuel]]"}