Biofuels

Fuels are a crucial part of our life because they enable our lives in many different ways like gas for cars and Biofuel, a source of energy that is made from biomass or material derived from living organisms, is one of the types of fuels found on Earth (“Biofuels”). Biofuels can be made from things like plants and vegetable oils as well as other resources such as animal manure, algae, and even cooking grease. However, what makes biofuels better than other fuels?

Biofuels are better for the environment than fossil fuels. For one thing, they are renewable. All the fossil fuels on Earth will eventually run out someday, but we can always grow new plants. Secondly, biofuels are designed to be carbon-neutral. When we burn fossil fuels, we release lots of carbon-based gasses into the atmosphere. This is bad for the planet since these gasses contribute to pollution and global climate change. The plants used for biofuel, on the other hand, actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow through photosynthesis. This offsets the carbon emitted when fuel is burned. Additionally, biofuels tend to burn cleaner and emit less carbon than fossil fuels (“Biofuels”).

Currently, the most common type of biofuel is ethanol or ethyl alcohol. This liquid, commonly found in alcoholic drinks, is usually derived from corn and sugarcane, but it can be made from other crops too. Ethanol is made through a process called fermentation. Essentially, tiny microbes absorb the natural starches and sugars in plants, producing alcohol as a byproduct. The alcohol is then purified and mixed with petroleum. One common blend is called E10. E10 is ten percent ethanol and ninety percent petroleum. It can be used in regular gasoline-powered cars. Meanwhile, blends that contain up to eighty-five percent ethanol can power special flex-fuel automobiles (“Biofuels”).

However, ethanol is not as efficient as petroleum. One cannot drive as far on a single tank filled with ethanol, and they would have to fill it up more often. Also, growing and harvesting crops requires energy, much of which still comes from fossil fuels. Thus, ethanol is not quite as environmentally friendly as it may seem (“Biofuels”). Using existing farmland to make biofuel can also lead to temporary food shortages and price hikes. The alternative option discussed is to convert wilderness areas into farmland, but that is also bad for the environment. Fortunately, ethanol is not the only biofuel.

Another popular biofuel is biodiesel, which requires less energy to manufacture than ethanol. It is usually made out of vegetable oils, like sunflower and soybean oil, but it can be made from animal fats and waste grease from restaurants. Biodiesel can be used in anything that takes normal diesel fuel, like trucks and other heavy vehicles. However, producing all that vegetable oil still requires a lot of farmland. Moreover, biodiesel turns solid at low temperatures, and it is not as efficient as regular diesel either (“Biofuels”).

As a result, right now, scientists are working on a new generation of biofuels that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. One example is cellulosic ethanol, which is based on the cellulose contained in the cell wall of green plants. Another example is algae, which can grow up to thirty times faster than ordinary crops, so it can be harvested many times a year. However, like the aforementioned, these technologies are not ready yet, but if they are perfected, the new fuels will be good for the environment and will help countries all over the world achieve energy security. That means that instead of importing oil from foreign countries, countries will be able to grow their own fuel right at home.

References

“Biofuels.” Brainpop, 18 Aug. 2022. www.brainpop.com/science/energy/biofuels. Accessed 22 Sep. 2022.