Biofuels

What are Biofuels?
Biofuels are fuel having energy from geologically recent carbon fixation which are produced from living organisms. Carbon fixation exists in plants and micro algae. These fuels are produced from a biomass conversion.

There are various kinds of biofuels in many countries of the world. For decades, Brazil has converted sugarcane into ethanol. There, some cars can run on pure ethanol instead of fossil fuels. In Europe, a diesel like fuel biodiesel is produced from palm oil.


Benefits of Biofuels

Biofuels are promising potential great solution. Cars are a major source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas causing global warming. As plants can absorb carbon dioxide with their growth, crops grown for biofuels should suck up about as much carbon dioxide as comes out of the tailpipes of cars that burn these fuels. And unlike underground oil reserves, biofuels are renewable resources. Because, we can always grow more crops to convert it into fuel.
It may be a better idea to produce biofuels from grasses and saplings wherein more cellulose exists. Cellulose is a tough material which constructs plants' cell walls and most of the weight of a plant is cellulose. It could be more efficient than existing biofuels and emit less carbon dioxide if cellulose can be converted into biofuel. In three different ways, biomass can be converted into convenient energy. They are - thermal conversion, chemical conversion and biochemical conversion. It can produce fuel in the form of solid, liquid or gas. This new biomass can be used for biofuels. Due to the possibility of rising oil prices and the need for energy security, the popularity of biofuels have been increased.

We can use biodiesel as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form. But, typically, it is used as a diesel in order to reduce carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other harmful elements from vehicles which are operated by conventional fuel diesel. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification (Process of exchanging between organic groups) and is the most common biofuel in Europe.

Prasun Barua

Prasun Barua is an Engineer (Electrical & Electronic) and Member of the European Energy Centre (EEC). His first published book Green Planet is all about green technologies and science. His other published books are Solar PV System Design and Technology, Electricity from Renewable Energy, Tech Know Solar PV System, C Coding Practice, AI and Robotics Overview, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Know How Solar PV System, Know The Product, Solar PV Technology Overview, Home Appliances Overview, Tech Know Solar PV System, C Programming Practice, etc. These books are available at Google Books, Google Play, Amazon and other platforms.

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