Biofuels

Currently, fossil fuels and nuclear energy provide each year about 90% of the
energy used in the world. But fossil fuel reserves are limited and, to a greater
or lesser degree, contaminants.
Since the mid-twentieth century, with population growth, the expansion of
industrial production, and the widespread use of technologies, started growing
concern about the depletion of oil reserves and environmental degradation.
Since then, the development of alternative energy based on renewable and less
polluting natural resources such as sunlight, tides, water, and biomass is
promoted.

What are biofuels?

Unlike fossil fuels, which come from the accumulated organic matter for huge
periods of time, biofuels come from a renewable source, biomass. Biomass is
organic matter that constitutes all living beings, their products and wastes. It is
said to be a source of renewable energy because its formation does not take
thousands of years, and therefore the utilization rate is not much higher than
that of their training. Table 1 shows the main types of biofuels is.

Solid
Straw
Firewood
kindling
Briquettes
Charcoal

Liquids
Gaseous
Alcohols
Producer gas
Biohidrocarburos
Biogas
Vegetable oils and
Hydrogen
ester derivatives
Pyrolysis oils
Table 1: Types of fuels from biomass

In much of the world, the wood (or charcoal) obtained from wood remains the
main biofuel used for cooking, heating and light. This source of energy is a
renewable resource if obtained from replanted forests conveniently. Also,
many vehicles use biofuels from methanol and ethanol mixed with gasoline.

You can obtain ethanol from sugar cane, beet or corn. In some countries, such
as India and China, biogas is produced from the natural fermentation of
organic waste (animal dung and crop residues). Another important source of
biofuel oils are oil crops such as soybean, sunflower and rapeseed, which can
be converted into biodiesel.

Getting biofuels
Depending on the nature of the biomass, and the desired type of fuel, you can
use different methods for biofuels: mechanical (chipping, crushing,
compacting), thermochemical (combustion, pyrolysis and gasification),
biotechnology (fermentation and anaerobic microbial digestion) and
extractives. Table 2 shows the main processes of obtaining biofuels, derived
products and their applications are presented.
Processes for obtaining biofuels
mechani thermochemical
cs
technique Spalling pyrolysi Gasificat
s
Triturati s
ion
on
compact
ion
Products Lenas
Carbon Producer
kindling oils
gas
briquette
s
Sawdust
Applicati Calefact Calefact Calefacti
ons
ion
ion
on
Electrici Electrici Electricit
ty
ty
y
Transpo Transpor
rt
t
Chemica Chemica
l
l

biotechnology

extractive
s
Fermentat anaerobi physicoion
c
chemical
digestio extraction
n
Ethanol
Various

biogas

oils
esters
hydrocarb
ons

Transport
Chemical
industry

Calefact Transport
ion
Chemical
Electrici industry
ty

industry

industry

Table 2: Production of biofuels

Each technique depends on the type of biomass available. If it is a dry material
can become heat directly by combustion, it will produce steam to generate
electricity. If it contains water, you can make anaerobic digestion, which will
convert methane and other gases, or fermented to produce alcohol, or convert
hydrocarbon by chemical reduction. If thermochemical methods are applied is
possible to remove methanol, oils, gases, etc.

The main biofuels

Bioethanol
Bioethanol is an alcohol, and is obtained as beer and other alcoholic
beverages. Carbohydrates are converted into simple sugars, which are
converted by fermentation into ethanol, which is then distilled into its final
form. It is mainly produced from sugar cane or corn (sometimes mixed with
other grains), whose carbohydrates are fermented to ethanol by yeast
Saccharomyces genus.
Production could be made from agricultural, forestry, industrial or municipal
waste. Raw materials rich in cellulose, such as agricultural and forestry wastes
are the most abundant and cheap, however the conversion of cellulose into
fermentable sugars is a complex and expensive process that makes obtaining
ethanol from waste is not profitable , at least for now.

El Biodiesel
Biodiesel is an ester which can be produced from vegetable oils, such as
soybean, rapeseed, sunflower and others, and from animal fats. Their
preparation is based on the transesterification reaction of glycerides, using
catalysts
Biodiesel has a similar amount of diesel oil energy but it is a cleaner fuel, and
can be used by any type of diesel engine (on vehicles, boats, tourist ships and
boats) alone or as additives to improve lubricity the motor.

Currently biodiesel is used in several countries in mixtures with different

percentages. There is interest in using biodiesel where workers are exposed to
diesel exhaust gases in aircraft, to control pollution in the area of airports,
locomotives and face restrictions on their use because of their emissions.

Biogas
To obtain biogas can be used as raw material animal excrement, cachaa cane
sugar, waste from slaughterhouses, distilleries and yeast plants, pulp and
coffee husk and plant dry matter. This technique allows partially meet the
demand of energy in rural areas, reduce deforestation due to logging for
firewood, can recycle waste from farming and is a "clean" and renewable
energy resource.
Biogas is clear from the tanks or digesters is rich in methane that can be used
to generate electrical or mechanical energy by combustion, whether in
industrial plants or for domestic use.
Biogas is obtained by decomposition of organic matter in the absence of
oxygen, and through the action of four types of bacteria:
hydrolytic, producing acetic acid, monocarbon compounds, fatty acids
and other compounds polycarbonates,
acetogenic, producing hydrogen.
the homoacetogenic, which can convert a substantial amount of carbon
compounds in acetic acid,
methanogens, produce methane gas, the main component of biogas.

Benefits of biofuels
The use of plant biomass into fuel production could benefit global energy
reality with a significant impact on the environment and society, as detailed
below:
The use of biofuels as a source of renewable energy can help reduce the
consumption of fossil fuels, responsible for the generation of
greenhouse gas emissions.

 They are a viable alternative to the already sensitive depletion of fossil

fuels like gas and oil, which is already observed increase in prices.
are produced from agricultural crops, which are renewable energy
sources.
may be obtained from own crops in a region, allowing local production
of biofuel.
allow fuel available regardless of import policies and fluctuations in the
price of oil.
produce much less emissions harmful to living things, water and air.