6/2/2017 BiofuelsTypesofBiofuels

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TypesOfBiofuel
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Biofuels,likefossilfuels,comeinanumberofformsandmeetanumberofdifferentenergyneeds.Theclassofbiofuelsissubdivided
intotwogenerations,eachofwhichcontainsanumberofdifferentfuelsthatwillbeexploredinthisarticle.
Biofuel
FirstGenerationBiofuels
WhatareBiofuels
Firstgenerationbiofuelsaremadefromsugar,starch,orvegetableoil.Theydifferfromsecondgenerationbiofuelsinthattheir

FirstGenerationBiofuels feedstock(theplantoralgalmaterialfromwhichtheyaregenerated)isnotsustainable/greenor,ifusedinlargequantity,wouldhavea
largeimpactonthefoodsupply.Firstgenerationbiofuelsaretheoriginalbiofuelsandconstitutethemajorityofbiofuelscurrentlyin
SecondGenerationBiofuels use.

ThirdGenerationBiofuels SecondGenerationBiofuels
Secondgenerationbiofuelsaregreenerinthattheyaremadefromsustainablefeedstock.Inthisuse,thetermsustainableisdefined
BiofuelFacts
bytheavailabilityofthefeedstock,theimpactofitsuseongreenhousegasemissions,itsimpactonbiodiversity,anditsimpactonland
use(water,foodsupply,etc.).Atthispoint,mostsecondgenerationfuelsareunderdevelopmentandnotwidelyavailableforuse.
BiofuelsForKids

Biomass
BiofuelTable
Thistablebreaksbiofuelsdownbygenerationandthenexplorestheiruses,energydensities,andgreenhousegasimpacts.Specific
TypesofBiofuels
biofuelsfromthetableareselectedforfurtherexplorationonsubsequentpages.

Bioalcohols

AviationBiofuel Fuel Feedstock EnergyDensity GreenhouseGas Notes

Biodiesel (megajoules/kilogram) CO2 (kg/kg)

Bioethers

Biogas FirstGeneration

Syngas
Bioalcohol Starchesfromwheat, ByType ByType
SolidBiofuels
corn,sugarcane,
Ethanol
AdvancedBiofuels molasses,potatoes, 30 1.91

Propanol
otherfruits 34 N/A
UsesofBiofuels
Butanol 36.6 2.37
AdvantagesofBiofuels

DisadvantagesofBiofuels Biodiesel Oilsandfats 37.8 2.85

includinganimalfats,
ChemistryofBiofuels vegetableoils,nut
oils,hemp,andalgae
BiofuelOrganisms

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GreenDiesel Madefrom 48.1 3.4 Chemicallyidentical
MajorProducersbyRegion
hydrocrackingoiland tofossilfueldiesel
fatfeedstock
FirstGenerationCompanies

SecondGeneration VegetableOil Unmodifiedorslightly ByType ByType

Companies modified
CastorOil 39.5 2.7

ResearchbyInstitution
OliveOil 39 2.8

Glossary Fat 32 N/A

SunflowerOil 40 2.8

Gate
Bioethers Dehydrationof N/A N/A Theseareadditives
alcohols tootherfuelsthat
increaseperformance

valve anddecrease
emissions,

Leader particularlyozone

Biogas Methanemadefrom 55 2.74(doesnottake Samepropertiesas

Professional wastecropmaterial intoaccountthedirect methanefromfossil

Valve throughanaerobic effectofmethane, fuels

digestionorbacteria whichis23Xmore
Manufacturer effectiveasaGHG
thanCO2
High
Performance SolidBiofuels Everythingfromwood ByType ByType Thiscategory
& Wide Wood
andsawdustto
1621 1.9
includesaverywide
garbage,agricultural varietyofmaterials.
Usage. Driedplants
waste,manure
1016 1.8
ManurehaslowCO2
emissions,buthigh
boteli.com Bagasse 10 1.3 nitrateemissions.

Manure 1015 N/A

Seeds 15 N/A

SecondGeneration

Cellulosicethanol Usuallymadefrom
wood,grass,or
inediblepartsof
plants

Algaebasedbiofuels Multipledifferentfuels Canbeusedtoproduce Seespecificfuels Moreexpensive,but

madefromalgae anyofthefuelsabove,as above mayyield10100X
wellasjetfuel morefuelperunit
areathanother
biofuels

Biohydrogen Madefromalgae Hydrogencompressedto Doesnothaveany Usedinplaceofthe

breakingdownwater. 700timesatmospheric greenhouseeffect. hydrogenproduced
pressurehasenergy fromfossilfuels
densityof

123

Methanol Inedibleplantmatter 19.7 1.37 Moretoxicandless

energydensethan
ethanol

Dimethylfuran Madefromfructose 33.7 Energydensityclose

foundinfruitsand tothatofgasoline.
somevegetables Toxictorespiratory
tractandnervous
system

FischerTropsch Wastefrompaper 37.8 2.85 Processisjustan

Biodiesel andpulp elaboratechemical
manufacturing reactionthatmakes
hydrocarbonfrom
carbonmonoxideand
hydrogen

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HowtoMakeBiofuelsFirstGenerationBiofuelsBiofuelsfromWasteAlternativeFuelsBiofuelHistoryWhatisSyngasTypesofBiofuel

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