To reduce the burden on nature, biofuels can be the best answer. Read the article below to know more on biofuels.

What Are Biofuels

Imagine a world where the air is clean, the water pure, and the food nutritious. Now consider the most important thing that comes in the way of having a healthy and sustainable world. It doesn’t take much time to point the finger at the one thing that is, directly and indirectly, a major cause of pollution. And it is energy or more precisely fossil fuel, the ingredient that runs the world. From coal to crude oil, fuel writes the fate of nations, and the fate of man. There is perhaps no other thing, not even God that enjoys such a complete dependence from man. So, fuel is the power that drives the transportation, the factories and virtually the entire life. In the process, it leaves behind toxic gases, contaminating all that is essential to live. Day by day, the tilt is shifting towards a future that looks as dark and bleak as the hazardous fumes that emanate from the burning of fuel. However, all this can be changed only by a simple shift in focus. And that is to adopt cleaner technologies. The best of course are biofuels. Since, they are mostly made from organic matter they are a great step forward towards having a pollution free environment. And who knows with energy efficient technology and further research and use of biofuels, the vision of a greener and cleaner world can indeed be a reality. Read below to know more on biofuels.
 
Information On Biofuels
 
Bioalcohol 
  • Bioalcohol is generally produced from ethanol, and sometimes even from propanol and butanol.
  • It is produced by fermenting starches or cellulose through the action of enzymes and microorganisms.
  • Biobutanol can be used as an effective replacement for gasoline as it can be used directly in a gasoline engine.
  • For petrol engines, bioethanol can be used by mixing it with gasoline. Since ethanol has smaller energy density, it requires more bioethanol to do the same amount of work as gasoline.
  • Mixing bioethanol with gasoline significantly reduces the atmospheric pollution emissions.
  • Bioethanol can be derived from any organic materials from which alcoholic beverages can be made. 
Green Diesel
  • Green diesel is a type of biofuel that is derived from renewable feedstock.
  • Green diesel is derived from a canola, algae, jatropha and salicornia. It can also be derived from tallow and a variety of oils.
 
Biodiesel
  • Biodiesel is produced by the process of transesterification of oils and fats. So, it is quite similar to fossil diesel.
  • This biofuel can be produced from animal fats, vegetable oil, rapeseed, jatropha, mahua, soy, algae, mustard, sunflower, and hemp.
  • Among all the types of diesel, biodiesel has the lowest emission rate. However, biodiesel is mostly used blended with mineral diesel.
  • Biodiesel is also ten times less toxic than common salt and since it is biodegradable, it is safe to handle and transport. 
Vegetable Oil
  • Only lower quality vegetable fuel can be used as biofuel.
  • Since this oil is very viscous, it must be heated to reduce its viscosity. Old diesel engines and indirect injection engines can be run on vegetable oil. 
Bioethers
  • This type of biofuel is also known as fuel ethers. Bioethers are especially good in enhancing the engine performance.
  • Bioethers also reduce the toxic exhaust emissions. Thus, they significantly reduce the ground level ozone.
Biogas
  • Biogas is produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic matter.
  • The byproduct of biogas is known as digestate and it can be used as a fuel.
  • It is produced from biodegradable waste as well as energy crops. 
Syngas
  • This gas is produced by the partial combustion of biomass.
  • Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
  • Syngas itself can be used as a fuel and it can also be converted to produce a diesel substitute. 

How to Cite

Related Articles


More from iloveindia.com