Biofuels

Introduction

A biofuel is a type of fuel that has energy from recent carbon fixation. The biofuel contains geological energy derived from recently living organisms. This is the main difference of biofuels as compared to fossil fuels such as oil which is derived from the organic waste of organisms that died a long time ago (Scragg 1). The fuel is usually made by conversion of biomass into fuel in different ways such as conversion by chemical, thermal and biochemical means. The carbon fixation usually occurs in microalgae and plants.

Conversion of biomass into fuel results into gas, liquid and solid state of the resultant fuel derived from the process. Today, biofuels provide clean energy and are slowly gaining acceptance as a cleaner power for vehicles and the production of electricity. Biofuels are increasingly gaining popularity because of their relatively lower prices as compared to oil whose price has been rising over the years (Scragg 17).

Classification of Biofuels

Biofuels are usually classified as first, second and third generation. The first generation biofuels are derived from starch, sugar, animal fats and vegetable oils. These are usually produced from sugars in grains or fermented starch. They are usually fermented to form bio-ethanol. Seed pressed in vegetable oil usually produces biodiesel. The most common first generation agro-fuels include biodiesel, biogas, vegetable oils, syngas, bio-alcohols and solid biofuels (Mousdale 16).

The second generation of biofuels is produced from non-food crops. These include, waste biomass such as wood, corn, and wheat stalks, and cellulosic biofuels. Some of the common types of biofuels in this category include biodiesel, vegetable oils, syngas and solid biofuels. There is also an ongoing research at the moment on Bio-DME, DMF, bio-hydrogen diesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, and mixed alcohols as second generation biofuels (Mousdale 21).

Third generation of biofuels is fuels produced from extracting oils in algae. They are also referred to as oilgae. The production of this type of fuel is characterized by low cost of production and high yield returns. This fuel gives up to 30 times the energy output per unit area of the current first generation biofuel stocks energy output. This factor makes the third generation biofuels an important energy source as they yield very high energy outputs and costs very little to produce (Mousdale 32).

Sources of Biofuels

Biofuels are usually found naturally in the environment. They however require conversion in order for the fuel and energy to be harnessed. The fuels are usually harvested from plant material including starch and sugar. Conventional technology has however enabled harvesting of the fuels from vegetable oils and animal fats. The ancients may have discovered biofuels long ago. This is because they used wood for heating and cooking purposes which is a form of biofuel (Scragg 62).

Making Biofuels

Conventionally, biofuels are derived from biomass and exist in three states of solid, liquid and gas forms. They are produced in a chemical process known as trans-esterification which entails the separation of glycerin from vegetable and fat oil. In this process, two by products are left behind namely methyl esters and glycerin. Methyl-ester is the chemical name for the biofuel while glycerin is a byproduct that is sold to producers of soap products.

This process of production of biofuels, using a base catalyst, is the most viable though other procedures such as direct acid catalyst use and conversion of oils to fatty acids then subsequently into biodiesel may be used. This is because the procedure uses low temperature and pressure, yields high conversion of up to 98% with reduced reaction time and side reactions, converts product to biodiesel with minimal intermediate products and lastly because it does not require exotic materials in construction of the plant.

Energy Content in Biofuels

Like all other fuels, biofuels contain energy content but must first be converted for this energy to be harnessed. The biofuels when burnt provide heat source (thermal energy) which is used to power machines. This energy may be used in internal combustion engines such as those in motor vehicles or in power plants through heating of water to steam to spin turbines that produce electricity (Johanson 43). The conversion of energy is from potential to kinetic energy forms and other forms such as heat and light. Biofuels have high carbon content and provide sufficient energy when burnt just like fossil fuels. The main advantage of biofuels is however that they provide a clean energy source as compared to fossil fuels and do not have a risk of being depleted. The same can be said for utilizing wind power to produce energy.

Uses of Biofuels

Biofuels are used to power motor vehicles. Majority of the modern cars today can run on ethanol-gasoline blends as they have an option of flex-fuel. These vehicles can utilize a blend of 0 to 85 percent ethanol. Normal vehicles can also operate on a blend of up to 10 percent ethanol. Cars that run on diesel can also use biofuels (Bhojvaid 181). For older models of diesel engines, it is however necessary for the gaskets and fuel lines to be replaced with synthetic materials as biodiesel is a solvent which can dissolve the components over time.

This fuel is also used to power aircraft engines. Testing done recently has shown that biofuel is a viable option in the aviation industry and can be used to power aircraft engines. The use of biofuels in the aviation industry is expected to increase significantly in the next ten years.

The biofuel is also used to power engines of off-road equipment. Such include vehicles that are used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and mining and in production of power and heat. These off-road vehicles and machinery usually use diesel for their engines and therefore are suitable for using biodiesel as an alternative option (Bhojvaid 233). The diesel in use for off-road vehicles is on a different standard as compared to diesel for ordinary vehicle use. For instance, it has a high sulfur content which leads to negative impacts on the environment. Biodiesel on the other hand has lower sulfur content and thus uses in off-road application lowers the emissions as well as exhaustion of fossil fuels.

Biofuels are used to power small engines and machines. For example, a mixture of 10% ethanol blend can run the engines of a lawn mower and chainsaws effectively. The only barrier to using a higher blend of ethanol in these engines lies not in limitations of technology but in the breach of manufacturer’s warranty. This is supported by testing which shows that blends of up to 20 percent ethanol do not have any negative effects on the engines. It is however encouraging that as of 2011; majority of manufacturer’s displayed a willingness to alter the guidelines and terms of their warranties.

Biofuels are used in production of electricity. They are burnt and the heat from their combustion is used to produce steam which spins turbines of generators. In addition, biofuels are used in homes domestically for heating and cooking purposes and to also produce light.

Trading Biofuel

Companies are interested in trading of biofuels as it provides untapped opportunities. For instance, some companies trade in biodiesel and supply this to farms and construction companies that use off-road machinery. Others have specialized in providing biofuels for home heating. These sell biofuels on a smaller scale to home owners for domestic use. Other companies trade biofuel in the electricity production sector where they sell this agro fuel to companies that produce electricity while other trade biofuels locally and sell it to car owners to meet their transportation needs.

Countries Using Biofuel

Different countries focus on different crops to create biofuels and use different conversion methods. The major producers of biofuel include the US, who convert corn to ethanol, brazil who use sugarcane and convert it to ethanol, Europe who use canola for producing biodiesel, Indonesia who convert palm oil into bio diesel, and china who convert cassava and sweet potatoes into ethanol (Horn, Geoffrey and Debra 34). When combined, the US and Brazil produce the highest amount of ethanol in the world. However, biofuels account for a lower percentage of the overall energy and fuels used in these countries. The governments in these states have all expressed a varying interest level on the use of bio-energy in their countries. For example, Brazil is planning to be a self sufficient country in energy. In Brazil, the gasoline in use is required to have at least 20% of ethanol in it, biodiesel fuels are being converted and the market in the country has introduced flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV). In the year 2006, over 80% of the vehicles sold in the country were FFV’s. In Europe, over a billion gallons of biodiesel is produced on a yearly basis. The European Union is working on adopting a proposal to adopt and promote biodiesel use in the European countries. In china, the government is supporting the production of ethanol from cellulosic sources. In the US, the government plans to triple its biofuel production and use in the next decade. The Indian government has identified potentials in biofuel production by setting aside over a hundred million acres of land for the growth of jatropha (Bhojvaid 13).

The Currency Exchange of Biofuel – Prices

In Brazil, the prices of ethanol have soared above the prices of raw sugar. This has happened for the first time in two years. The rise in price of ethanol over sugar may influence millers to favor production of biofuels over sugar. A research by Lausanne, a Switzerland based Kingsman shows that the price of hydrous ethanol, a fuel used in flex cars, trades at about nineteen cents a pound. This price is higher than the price of sugar by 4.8%. Biofuels are trading at high prices globally and are ensuring additional gains for major producers such as Brazil.

Conclusion

Biofuels provide a good alternative to fossil fuels as an energy source. They are easy to convert and produce clean energy alternatives with reduced effects to the environment. Biofuels have high yields in energy just as fossil fuels and work well in most engines without any complications. In most countries, there is room for investment in this highly promising sector under energy production as little has been done by the government or individuals to exploit this niche. Biofuels have however been in use for a long time now spanning to years before the discovery of fossil fuels. Many governments are now encouraging the use of biofuels in their countries and diverting to new ways of producing biofuels or improving the existent ones.

Works Cited

Bhojvaid, P P. Biofuels: Towards a Greener and Secure Energy Future. New Delhi: TERI Press, 2007. Print.

Horn, Geoffrey M, and Debra Voege. Biofuels. New York, NY: Chelsea Clubhouse, 2010. Print.

Johanson, Paula. Biofuels: Sustainable Energy in the 21st Century. New York, NY: Rosen Pub, 2010. Print.

Mousdale, David M. Biofuels: Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Sustainable Development. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2008. Internet resource.

Scragg, A H. Biofuels, Production, Application and Development. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: CABI, 2009. Internet resource.