What is biomass? The molecular bonds in oils low in saturated fats, which stay liquid at lower temperatures, vary from those high in saturated fats, which often form solids in average temperature ranges. Similar to petroleum fuels, biofuels are flammable (especially ethanol) and must be transported carefully. The process creates a synthetic gas (syngas), which can then be used for a wide variety of applications. The development of a biofuels industry has great potential to stimulate economic development in rural areas with less job possibilities by creating new markets for crops and other agricultural products. So, it could be a threat to food security or access to adequate nutritious food for the population. According to studies, the levels of carbon dioxide emissions and particulate matter are reduced with biofuels, however, the nitrogen oxides are slightly higher than at fossil fuels [1]. Brazil and the United States are among the leading producers of ethanol. While the first is a bit beyond the control of biofuel producers, the second is at the core of a potentially serious drawback of plant-based fuels: The water demands of some biofuel-producing crops could put unsustainable pressure on local water resources if not managed wisely. Researchers are exploring techniques to genetically engineer less thirsty crops. See also carbon sequestration. 167.99.130.146 Natural Resources Research. After all, a better harvest would reduce prices and ensure there's enough corn or soybeans on hand to feed and fuel the world, right? For example, Range Fuels in Georgia similarly attempted to gasify waste from the pulp and paper industry and transform it into ethanol directly but foundered in perfecting its catalysts. By that time, the corn had been on the market for a season. (Nov. 15, 2010)http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/22428/page1/, Mellon, Margaret and Jane Rissler. But biofuels aren't completely cost-free. Although it has been stated quite extensively that biofuels have an overall positive environmental impact, it may be well to explore the disadvantages of biofuels in this respect. All rights reserved. (2022 Guideline). July 30, 2000. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Technical Challenges Perhaps the simplest drawback of biofuels is that it is not petroleum-based fuel so that they will work differently in engines developed for petroleum-based fuel. Biofuels are generally of two categories: gaseous biofuel and liquid biofuel. Biofuels Disadvantages There are some complicating aspects about disadvantages of biofuels that we should look at. However, this is not the only reason to encourage the use of biofuels. . You can substitute it for corn ethanol if produced at a lower cost. And while biofuel is not as clean as other renewables and won't get us out of the woods when it comes to reversing the impacts of climate change, it is a reliable renewable source. Second-Generation Biofuels - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Converting degraded agricultural land that is out of production to such high-diversity biofuel sources could increase wildlife area, reduce erosion, cleanse waterborne pollutants, store carbon dioxide from the air as carbon compounds in the soil, and ultimately restore fertility to degraded lands. The use of biofuels can therefore help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable energy system. 19 January 2011. Also, It increases microbial growth in the engine, making the engine filters clogged. Many of the studies show that the machinery used to cultivate crops emits large quantities of carbon emissions. Second, the oil these plants produce is not equal. Similarly, BlueFire Ethanol turns waste into ethanol by using sulfuric acid to release the cellulose in the trash and then adds enzymes and microbes to ferment it into fuel. Additionally, the cost of biofuels is affected by government policies and subsidies. There is also no need to convert the engine. The greenhouse emission potential of biofuel varies considerably, from levels comparable to fossil fuels in some situations to negative emissions in others. Biofuels are often not compatible with traditional fossil fuel infrastructure because they have different chemical and physical properties. Required fields are marked *. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. 1. Because biomass technically can be used directly as a fuel, sometimes the terms biomass and biofuel are used interchangeably. Biofuel Pros and Cons Analysis: How Does It Work? Studies show that biofuels decrease greenhouse gases by up to 65 percent. Compatibility refers to the ability of a fuel to be used in existing infrastructure and equipment without modification or damage. Biofuels are an energy source obtained from organic material (animal waste, plants, etc. Renewability Is an Advantage It takes a very long time for fossil fuels to be produced. Disadvantages No fuel is perfect, and there are some biofuel disadvantages - especially if plants are grown specifically. Biofuels, on the other hand, are produced from biological materials, which are generally considered to be cleaner-burning than fossil fuels. Other companies, such as Wheelabrator, simply fortify the gas and burn it directly to produce electricityalthough that can result in the emissions of toxic chemicals, such as dioxinsor employ additional complex chemical steps. Furthermore, biofuels can also be more expensive to produce than fossil fuels, which can make them less competitive in the market and discourage investment in the biofuel industry. Compared with making ethanol from crops, the environmental benefits of making it from waste are clear: It diminishes the demand for landfills and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. The pure form (B100) can be employed as a fuel for vehicles but is commonly used as a diesel additive to reduce particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons in diesel vehicles. The advantages and disadvantages of HYV seeds are shown in the table below: Biofuels Biofuels are any kind of fuel manufactured from living things or from waste. Disadvantages of Composting If the composted materials contain waste types such as animal or food waste there is a risk that diseases (for example "foot and mouth") may be spread in the compost. Unlike the first-generation ethanol biofuel produced from food crops, second-generation cellulosic ethanol is derived from low-value biomass that possesses a high cellulose content, including wood chips, crop residues, and municipal waste. We are working hard to improve our content. It causes air pollution 3. That has yet to be an energy source that comes without some drawback. Synfuels still remain more expensive to produce than conventional fuels, mostly because more research, development and investment are necessary to make production economically viable. These air pollutants can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, as well as damage to crops, forests, and other ecosystems. Researchers are investigating ways to genetically engineer less thirsty crops, and carefully planning what biofuel crops to plant in a given region can mitigate this problem [source: Lau]. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. With international trends swinging toward sustainable transportation, fuels such as corn-based ethanol and biodiesel from soy, switchgrass and palm oil seem like a good step toward cleaner, greener highways. Enerkem takes the "fluff" of municipal solid wastethe plastics, textiles and wood that isn't recycled or the leftovers of agriculture or forestrygasifies it and, using catalysts and water, transforms the gas via multiple chemical steps into ethanol or other products. This means that when garbage rots in landfills, that stinky gas can be used for energy! Some of these chemicals, which are mostly related to the combustion of non-biomass materials in garbage, can be hazardous to people and the environment if they are not properly controlled. What are the economic advantages of using biofuels? Economics of Biofuels | US EPA Biodiesel produces less toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases than petroleum diesel. Under this vision, biofuel crops would remove carbon dioxide from the air as they grow, and energy facilities would capture the carbon dioxide given off as biofuels are burned to generate power. 11 Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethanol - Vittana.org This undergraduate laboratory experiment educates students on the various alternative fuels that are being developed for automotive applications and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Which Are the 4 Generations of Biofuels? - Solar energy Ethanol-production facilities use far more electricity to run than they produce in fuel. This lack of compatibility is one of the reasons that biofuels have not been widely adopted as a replacement for fossil fuels. The most common types of liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. Pure ethanol and biodiesel are nontoxic and biodegradable, and if spilled, they break down into harmless substances. To begin a detailed discussion of this subject, the following are some of the recognised benefits and drawbacks of biofuels. Many critics express concerns about the scope of the expansion of certain biofuels because of the economic and environmental costs associated with the refining process and the potential removal of vast areas of arable land from food production. The amount of vegetable oil available in an acre of crops can vary widely, from 18 gallons per acre for corn to 635 gallons for oil palm [source: Journey to Forever]. As an alternative to landfills, incineration offers the following advantages: #1 Far more efficient use of space. Environment. Monoculture isn't a problem confined to biofuel production; it's an issue that had been studied for years in relation to large-scale food crop production. That's why Waste Management, Inc., has invested in a slew of such waste-to-energy companies, including Enerkem. For this and other reasons, perennials such as switchgrass and miscanthus have gained in popularity as feedstock for biofuels, as they leave much more ground cover after harvest for the prevention of soil loss. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/index.php, Journey to Forever. Biofuel uses waste natural materials, and produces fewer emissions as a result. The first way damage is caused is by destroying local habitat. Liquid biofuels are of particular interest because of the vast infrastructure already in place to use them, especially for transportation. Corn-based ethanol, for example, has a higher density than gasoline; fuel injectors have to be larger in an ethanol-only engine to match the fuel flow of a comparable gasoline engine. Perhaps the simplest drawback of biofuels is that it is not petroleum-based fuel so that they will work differently in engines developed for petroleum-based fuel. Another way in which biofuel production can compete with food production is through the use of food crops, such as corn, as feedstocks for biofuels rather than spending resources on processing corn for human consumption. Biodiesel is a non-toxic fuel producing lower emissions as compared to fossil fuels when burnt. It also prevents crop rotation and in turn prevents the soil from recovery from nutritional depletion. The ragged stripes stretching from east to west are growing zones: regions where water supply, temperature and sunlight make hospitable climates for certain types of plants. The major disadvantage of fuel ethanol, however, is its production cost. Web. Alexander, C. et al. This factor could potentially limit the scale of biofuel production when it comes to upscaling their use. List of the Disadvantages of Ethanol. Biogas reduces Soil and water pollution. "Food vs. Biofuels are made from a wide range of materials. The biomass pretreatment is one of the keys to the best use of organic waste and thus enhance the production of a biogas plant. Aug. 11, 2006. Land use is also a major factor in evaluating the benefits of biofuels. Restored and gently maintained land will yield enough biomass for biofuel production at lower need for synthetic substances, such as pesticides or fungicides. Monoculture refers to the practice of growing one heavily concentrated crop, rather than the rotation of various crops through a farmer's fields over time. Pure ethanol is difficult to vaporize meaning starting a car in cold weather could be more difficult that a car that runs on petrol. and B.P. Algae can be formed in ponds or tanks on land or out at sea. Biogas is methane generated in the process of anaerobic digestion of organic matter by anaerobes. and environmental chaos ensued. One of the key challenges in making the use of biofuels more sustainable over the long term is ensuring that they are sourced from feedstocks that have a low carbon footprint and are not in competition with food production. Uses land that could be used to grow food. This necessarily destroys animal dwellings, microcosms (micro ecosystems), and reduces the overall health of a region's natural resources. A prime example of this occurred in the early 2000s. It contributes to deforestation 4. However, most of the time, the word biomass simply signifies the biological raw material from which the fuel is made, or some kind of thermally-chemically changed solid end product, like torrefied pellets or briquettes. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. However, ready access to food imports, and the ease of exporting, hinge on a wide range of political and social factors. #1 Land use changes and land grabbing But the conversions add time and money to the biofuel equation, something that can be off-putting for potential biofuel users. University of Minnesota. The first generation biofuels are produced from food crops grown on arable land. Biofuel is produced from renewable resources and relatively less-flammable than fossil diesel. Biofuels are an alternative to fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal). Omissions? PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Getty Images "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. Many unsaturated oils have undesirable burn characteristics: They'll leave gummy residue in an engine when used as fuel. Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. (Nov. 15, 2010)http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_06/b4020093.htm, Golden Fuel Systems. But we must realize that nothing in life is straightforward and applicable to all situations.
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