Biofuel – A Sustainable Power Source
The energy crisis has already prompted a war; that is if you believe conspiracy theorists and the media. There might be some truth to this matter, at least if we take a closer look at the dynamics of supply and demand of fuel all over the world.
What is BioFuel?
Biofuel is an energy source derived from recently deceased biological matter while fossil fuel (i.e. raw material for gasoline, kerosene, diesel and etc.). In theory biofuel can be derived from any carbonated source, but in practice it usually comes from plants like corn, palm, sugar cane, wheat, and algae. These feedstock sources are popular for the two most popular end products which are used for cars and machineries: bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol comes from either sugar crops or fermented starch. Biofuel does not just come from plant crops, although a margin of them does.
Since bio fuel may be gaseous, liquid, or solid fuel, other categories also apply. Way up in the Tibetan mountains, biofuels have been in use for hundreds of years. Tibetans use manure from their goats, donkeys, horses, and cows as a substitute for wood. Animal waste are common pollutants, converting it into useful energy helps eliminate its negative effects.
Biowaste
Other alternative fuel resources are used oils. People eat, and thousands and millions of gallons of used oils are thrown down the drain, which leads to rivers and oceans. Oil does not decompose so recycling and converting it into biofuel is in order. In addition, landfills maybe of some use after all. Landfills emanate polluting gas which contains methane, a combustible gas which is the primary content of the gas we use for cooking, and heat.
Biofuel and Cars
Liquid biofuels are getting generous media attention because of the worsening air conditions in severely populated areas. Cars produce almost 60% of our air pollution. Vehicles need highly combustible energy to function. Liquids and gases are easier to handle because it can be contained and pumped, so handling is less expensive.
There are two types of biofuels that maybe used in cars: biodiesel and bioethanol. Biofuel is very popular in Europe. In that part of the world most car manufacturers make vehicles with diesel engines, so using biodiesel instead of pure diesel is a relatively easy transition. If a car is unmodified, owners may blend up to 20% biodiesel with regular diesel. Biodiesel comes from fats and used oils, these by products are the processed through transesterification. Transestirification is a chemical reaction produced by adding an acid base to the fats. The result is biodiesel.
Bioalcohol is produced when starch, sugar, and cellulose are fermented. The results are three popular types of alcohols: ethanol, butanol, and propanol. Among the three it is argued that either ethanol or biobutanol may be used in gasoline running cars, but it seems that biobutanol won the bid because it now called biogasoline. Biogasoline is formed by acetone, butanol, and ethanol fermentation and scientific modifications.
With social enlightenment and a new found concern for the welfare of the environment, more and more sustainable power resources are being discovered and invented.
