Hobbies And Interests
Producing Bioethanol
Ethanol is a biofuel mostly produced from sugar cane or grain. Sugars are extracted from these plants and fermented to create ethanol. A small percentage of ethanol used for fuel is synthetic, produced from a petroleum by-product called ethylene. Ethanol is the most popular biofuel in use. It can be used in pure form or blended with conventional gasoline. Pure ethanol is used to fuel transportation in Brazil, but most vehicles in the United States are not yet compatible.
Using Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel manufactured from vegetable oils or animal fat for use in diesel engines. This type of fuel can be used in existing diesel engines without modifications and has the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 50 percent. Often, it is used in blends of 5 to 20 percent with regular diesel fuel. Biodiesel is made by a chemical process called transesterification, which creates both biodiesel and glycerin.
Creating Biogas
Renewable natural gas, or biogas, is a by-product of composting organic matter. Large amounts of gas can be captured from landfills and livestock operations to displace the use of fossil fuels. The use of biogas reduces the release of methane into the atmosphere, thus reducing greenhouse gas accumulation. This type of gas can be substituted for natural gas as an alternative fuel in natural gas-powered machinery. In addition to transportation, biogas can be used to provide heat and electricity.
Discovering Algae-Based Fuels
A variety of biofuels can be made from algae, simple little plant-like organisms. Algae have a high growth rate and oil content. Microalgae may soon be replacing traditional oil crops for biodiesel and bio-oil. These little powerhouses can produce 10 to 100 times more oil yield than traditional crops, while being grown throughout the year. The algae can be cultivated in open ponds or enclosed bioreactors and the algae residues can be digested to make biogas fuel.
Understanding Classifications of Biofuels
First generation biofuels are made from sugars, starches and vegetable oils of food-chain products like corn, soybeans and beets. These fuels include bioethanol, vegetable oil, biodiesel and biogas. Second generation biofuels come from non-food crops such as wheatstraw, corn husks and wood. The third generation classification is not official, but is commonly used to classify algae as a biofuel.