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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.
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.
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%.
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