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Biofuel
Biofuels are a source of energy derived from living organisms that have not been extracted from sequestered reserves in the earth and whose natural emissions have a neutral impact on the environment.
685 Questions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?
Cost:
- Once the technology is widely available, biofuels can be significantly less expensive than gasoline and other fossil fuels, particularly as worldwide demand for oil increases, therefore increasing oil and gasoline prices to unheard of levels.
Source Material:
- Whereas oil is a limited resource that comes from specific materials, biofuels can be manufactured from a wide range of materials including crop waste, manure, and other byproducts, making it a efficient step in recycling.
Renewability:
- It takes thousands of years for fossil fuels to be produced, but biofuels are much more easily renewable as new crops are grown and waste material is collected.
Security:
- By reducing dependence on foreign fuel sources, countries can protect the integrity of their energy resources and make them safe from outside influences.
Economic Stimulation:
- Because biofuels are produced locally, biofuel manufacturing plants can employ hundreds or thousands of workers, creating new jobs in rural areas. Biofuel production will also increase the demand for suitable biofuel crops, providing economic stimulation to the agriculture industry.
Biodegradability:
- Biofuels are easily biodegradable and far safer to handle than traditional fuels, making spills less hazardous and much easier and less expensive to clean up.
Neutral Carbon Emissions:
- When biofuels are burned, they only release carbon that was recently acquired, that is, part of the natural carbon cycle. This is an important difference to the carbon released by fossil fuels, which has been sequestered under the ground for millions of years. CO2 from fossil fuels is responsible for the runaway greenhouse effect that is causing global warming.
- The disadvantage of biofuels is that despite being a renewable source of energy the levels of power/energy it produces are not high enough (compared to fossil fuels) to be used commerically i.e. for industry, power stations etc.
- Despite the many positive characteristics of biofuels, there are also many disadvantages to these energy sources. The main issue is producing biofuels in a sustainable way. This means an emphasis on agricultural practices that do not use rainforests / other endangered habitats or food crop producing land or extensive irrigation or fertilization. Some Biofuels are more harmful than others.
Rainforest and natural habitat destruction:
- Palm oil can be especially damaging but is cheaper than other alternatives. Most palm oil is produced on destroyed rainforest habitat.) Unilever is the world's biggest purchaser of palm oil. The Center for Orangutan Protection concluded orangutans there could be extinct in Borneo by 2011.
Greenhouse gas reduction:
- Rapeseed may produce more CO2 than fossil fuels - (link below).
- Shell is working to develop the fuel ethanol from wheat straw to reduce waste and emissions - (link below).
- It takes 840 years for a palm oil plantation to soak up the carbon emitted when rainforest is burnt to plant the crop.
- Modern agriculture uses a lot of farm machinery and a lot of petroleum-based fuel to run that machinery, so that the fuel invested to create biofuel can offset any possible savings from using biofuel as a substitute for petroleum-based fuels.
- Several studies have been conducted to analyze the carbon footprint of biofuels, and while they may be cleaner to burn, there are strong indications that the process to produce the fuel - including the machinery necessary to cultivate the crops and the plants to produce the fuel - has hefty carbon emissions.
- Biofuels have a lower energy output than traditional fuels and therefore require greater quantities to be consumed in order to produce the same energy level.
Affect on existing agriculture and water supplies:
- Biofuel production can adversely affect food and water supplies to poorer communities and income from agriculture for those communities. It can contribute to deforestation and soil erosion.
- Also, because land ownership is so important to survival, human rights are often very sensitive to any change in land use.
- As demand for food crops such as corn grows it could also raise prices for necessary staple food crops. Malaysia & Indonesia currently meet about 87% of global palm oil demand. China is currently the world's largest importer of palm oil, accounting for one third of all global trade. Biofuel is made from things such as corn, which may be more needed in the form of food than they are as fuel.
Advantages
1. Biofuels are any solid, liquid or gas that has been derived from biomass. It can be produced from any carbon source that is easily replenished such as plants. This means it is very eco-friendly as the fuel is a renewable resource.
2. The waste products can be recycled as they are natural resources. The waste product will also be bio-degradable.
3. Biofuels are carbon neutral meaning they will not give off greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
4. Biofuels can be created anywhere in the world.
5. Once the technology is widely available, it will be much cheaper than fossil fuels as it is made from renewable resources.
Disadvantages
1. At the moment the energy created from biofuels is not sufficient enough for industrial facilities and factories.
2. To create more land to create crops for biofuels it could affect habitats of wild plants and animals as we would still need land to grow crops for food.
3. At the moment biofuels are not sustainable without affecting food prices and production.
4. Farmers would make more money growing biofuel crops therefore they may stop growing food crops and this would lead to a rise in food prices and put people at the risk of starvation.
A bio-molecule is a chemical molecule that naturally occurs in living organisms. Bio-molecules consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen, along with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. Other elements sometimes are incorporated but are much less common.
Definition of conventional and non conventional energy?
Definition of conventional and non conventional energy
What are traditional biofuels?
Biofuels are fuel made from any plant or animal based products. Two traditional biofuels are wood and corn. Biofuels are renewable sources of energy.
Is biomass a renewable nonrenewable or inexhaustible resource?
Biomass is renewable only if the vegetation it is burning is renewable!
Biomass fuel is really any kind of vegetation that is burnt to produce electricity. Ideally this is residue from other crops, like the remains of sugar cane (bagasse) after they crush out the sugar juice. All these crops can grow quickly, in one season, so they are renewable. We can always grow more.
Yes! it does!
Even with the engine warmed the smell is still very noticeable.
It is related to the feedstock used, if oil-based feedstock is used then it will smell like "french fries".
If the feedstock is animal-based fat then it will smell like "pork" or "beef".
At least on my 1.9 TDi with catalytic converter.
Will biodiesel clog the catalytic converter in a 2008 diesel truck?
Biodiesel emissions are much cleaner than emissions from conventional diesel. Carbon dioxide is reduced by 90%, sulphur by 100%, carbon monoxide by 10-50%, and hydrocarbons by 10-50%. The only emissions that increase are nitrous oxide emissions. However, this is counteracted by your catalytic converter. So the answer is no, boidiesel will not clog your catalytic converter.
What effect does biodiesel have on the environment?
An environmental benefit of using bio diesel as an additive to petroleum-based diesel is a reduction in harmful emissions such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes, which are responsible for the health hazards and pollution associated with combustion of petroleum-based fuels.
How do you make biodiesel from janitor fish?
Fish oil needs an acid pretreatment because of the high %FFA. Then it needs drying and sometimes dewaxing. After this a standard biodiesel reaction with caustic soda will convert the fish oil into biodiesel. More you can read at: http://www.greenerpro.com/BiodieselProcess.html
Which alcohol is now commonly being used as a fuel additive?
Who ever posted the last answer was wrong. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Its structure is CH3CH2OH. It has many uses such as a fuel additive, an industrial solvent, or as a starting ingredient in many consumer goods.
The advantages of them all is that they produce electricity, which the whole world needs to support our lifestyle.
The disadvantages of the first three is that they are polluting and expensive.
The greater advantages of all the renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wave, biomass and geothermal) is that they are free, renewable, and don't emit carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution which is causing global warming.
What are the names of all the bio fuels?
First generation biofuels :-
- Bioalchohols
- Biodiesel
- Green diesel
- Vegetable Oil
- Bioethers
- Biogas
- Syngas
- Solid biofuels
Second generation biofuels (Under development):-
- Cellulosic ethanol
- Algae fuel
- Biohydrogen
- Biomethanol
- DMF
- BioDME
- Fischer-Tropsch diesel
- Biohydrogen diesel
- Mixed alcohols
- Wood diesel
Article on conventional and non-conventional sources of energy?
Energy demand has been increasing steadily alongside the event of the state. Insight of restricted typical energy sources and their restricted exploitation and increasing, environmental pollution production of energy support new and renewable energy sources and are being given high priority and promotion. New and bigger chances are high that change into apparent to participate within the thought of energy production. Along-with biomass and little hydro-electricity the ways in which area unit being paved for the institution of major comes to support MW solar power. Add the State is being doled out towards grid connected alternative energy Generation and topside power generation. Doubtless, currently, we tend to area unit moving towards the goal that was envisaged at the time of formation of the agency. In April month 1983 Uttar Pradesh Government made come into Non-conventional Energy Development Agency under the divisions of an organization of also additional energy sources as an autonomous institution. The organization has been giving a different name as "Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency ( UPNEDA ) ".From the start, the instrument is also working as a nodal 1 instrument for putting into effect mixed, of different sorts of designs within the state.
Efforts area unit being created to develop the capability in renewable energy sources like solar power, small-scale hydroelectricity and biomass-based electricity production within the state. Numerous capability alternative energy plants area unit being put in for electricity generation from solar power. Biomass-based co-generation within the state sugar mills and rice husk based-electricity generation comes area unit being inspired. Additionally to the current, small-scale hydro electrical comes area unit being enforced together with non-public entrepreneurs.
How long has biodiesel been around?
More than 150 years.
Production of biodiesel from vegetable oil was first done in 1853 by scientists E. Duffy and J. Patrick. Forty years later, Rudolf Diesel's first engine ran for the first time in Augsburg, Germany, on 10 August 1893 using peanut oil as biodiesel.
Why can Biodiesel be bad for your engine?
Biodiesel can be bad for your engine because it is a mild solvent. It dissolves elastomers and rubber parts like fuel lines and found in the injectionpump. Blending with diesel helps to prevent this.
Why don't car manufacturers use bio diesel engines?
There is no such thing really as strictly a "bio-diesel" engine. ANY diesel engine can burn bio-diesel. ANY diesel engine can ...in fact...right this minute, burn used cooking oil straight out of the fryer. It is more a matter at this point of having a supply of bio derived diesel and an infrastructure to blend/produce and distribute it. There is a technical issue in that the currently available bio-diesel causes carbon buildup in the engines it is used in, resulting in poorer performance, lower fuel mileage, and higher maintenance costs that negate the benefits of using bio-diesels in the first place. This is because the additives used in regular production diesel that keep carbon buildup to a minimum, lubricate the fuel system and do other beneficial tasks are diluted or are non-existent in most of the currently available bio-diesels. This will become less of a problem when the aforementioned production facilities are more common.
Bio fuels are made from natural oils. These oils include, palm, soybean, and algae. Wood can also be made into a liquid bio fuel.
What is the difference between biomass and a biofuel?
A: BioFuels are a sub-set of Bioenergy, and refer to those bioenergy products that are in liquid form, and hence suitable for mobile fuel uses (such as petrol replacements). Examples of biofuels are ethanol and bio-diesel. Bioenergy usually refers to non-liquid energy outputs such as electricity and heating.
Is banana peeling an alternative source of biofuel?
The banana peel can be an alternative source of biodiesel. It has the properties which enables it to compensate with the standard we use.
Pros and cons of using biodiesel?
Biodiesel has been controversial. I've include 4 links that explain the issues with biodiesel and biofuels in general.
First, the pros
1. It works. A mix of diesel and biodiesel may be necessary on some cars. It can be used in buses and trains. Use of biodiesel has been increasing.
2. We have a limited supply of fossil fuels. The ability to "grow our energy" extends the lifetime of our natural resources.
3. Biodiesel burns cleaner than regular diesel, based on particulates from tail-pipe emissions (see wikipedia link on environmental problems).
4. We must import oil, and this creates a dependence on other countries. It would be devastating to our economy if any country cut us off from this supply. So, biodiesel adds to our energy security.
5. Adding to the supply of fuels should help moderate prices of these fuels by making them less scarce commodities.
6. Biodiesel is good for farmers around the world. It is an additional crop they can grow.
Now, the cons,
1. Converting crops into biofuels will mean that less of there will be less available produce to feed people. This drives up the price of food. One crop in particular is soybeans, which is used as animal feedstock. So as soybeans become more valuable to make fuels, meat prices will increase.
2. Biodiesel (or more generally biofuels) means that there will be extensive deforestation in tropical areas such as the Amazon rainforest to grow sugar cane and soybeans for biofuels. This will have a large impact on environment and CO2 emissions. CO2 pollution is linked to global warming. Thus some environmentalists are calling biodiesel a worse alternative than natural diesel.
3. The increase in palm oil farms in Asia has lead to use of pesticides and contamination of drinking water supplies. (see wikipedia link)
4. Biodiesel is not a cleaner fuel to burn. It produces 10% more nitrogen oxide tail pipe emissions than diesel. (see Wikipedia link on environmental issues).
5. Promoters of biofuels have created a false impression of an easy solution to energy needs. Due to all the problems they cause, these fuels can not satisfy our needs.
I suggest that you read through the links provided. Perhaps there are more pros and cons. Certainly, the question of whether biodiesel burns cleaner is a difficult one.
Good luck!
:)
Biodiesel is less pollutive.
It is safer to handle
:(
It is more expensive at the moment
Not approved by all auto dealers
