What is BIOFUEL?

Biofuel is a type of fuel derived from biomass or biowaste, which is a substance biofuel producederived from living things or from the creation and decomposition of living things, such as algae, animal waste, and plants such as corn, sorghum, wheat, soybeans, sunflowers, and cassava, as well as commercial, agricultural, industrial, and household waste. Biofuels are considered alternative energy and clean energy, unlike other natural energy sources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels that are produced through geological processes.

How is been Produced?
Biofuels can be produced in a number of ways, but they generally involve chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down biomolecules such as starches, sugars, proteins, and fats in plants or other raw materials. These are then processed to improve the quality of the product and enhance its properties to make it more suitable for future use.

Forms of biofuels

          Solid

wood

It is a biofuel derived from organic matter, such as trees and plants. It provides biomass in the form of firewood, sawdust, wood chips, charcoal and wood pellets that can be burned and provide heat energy.

Agricultural Wastes

Plants such as corn cobs, bagasse, rice husks, cotton, peanut waste, Napier grass and animal waste such as animal manure, animal skins, etc. can be used as heat energy and can be used to generate electricity.

          Liquid

Biodiesel

It is a biofuel produced from animal fat, small algae, and vegetable oil. The most popular plants are sunflower and palm oil. Biodiesel is produced by combining fat and oil from animals and plants respectively. Then, the quality is improved by chemical processes such as transesterification under high temperature conditions. The result is biodiesel with combustion properties similar to diesel from petroleum and can be used as a substitute. Importantly, it can decompose by natural biological processes and is not toxic to the environment.

Ethyanol

It is a naturally renewable fuel that is clear, colorless, and can be produced from biomass (Biomass) both plants and animals, such as corn, wheat, cassava, straw, willows, sawdust, sorghum, and grass, etc. Ethanol is alcohol produced through the fermentation process of high-carbon biomass. It can be used as fuel for cars and used as a mixture with gasoline to increase octane and reduce carbon monoxide and smoke emissions.

Methanol

Methanol is a liquid fuel that is an alcohol, similar to ethanol, and can be used as a fuel for the engines of various vehicles, especially racing cars. Methanol has a chemical composition that is very similar to methane. The only difference is that methane is a gas, while methanol is a liquid. Biomass is converted to methanol through gasification through various chemical processes, such as methane reforming (CH4 reforming), gasification to produce bio-methanol that burns completely, without soot and gives a blue flame.

Butanol

It is another type of biofuel alcohol, which is produced by the fermentation process of algae or bacteria. The most commonly used method for producing butanol is the fermentation of sugars found in biomass feedstocks. Butanol has a higher energy content per unit than ethanol and methanol, but has a similar chemical structure and performance to gasoline. It can be used directly as a fuel in engines without any modification, and can significantly reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to gasoline.

         Gas
Biogas

It is a biofuel in the form of gas that has properties similar to natural gas, which is obtained from the process of breaking down both plant and animal biomass under anaerobic conditions. Its main component is methane gas. It is currently popularly used in gas tanks for household use.

• The importance of biofuels
  It is a clean and environmentally friendly renewable energy source.
  Reduces fossil fuel imports, creates energy security and economic stability.
  Low cost, easy to produce and cheaper than fossil fuels.
  Burns better than petroleum and diesel, reduces air pollution, acid rain and greenhouse gases.
  Increases local employment rates and helps promote agriculture and added value in the agricultural sector very well.