Biofuel

From wiki.NGSciEd.org

Contents 1 Biofuel 2 Helpful Terms About Biofuel 3 Electricity and Power 4 Benefits of Biofuel 5 Negative Aspects of Biofuel 6 Biofuel Today 7 Where Is Biofuel Produced Best? 8 Is Biofuel Renewable or Sustainable? 9 Biofuel News and Related Articles 10 Sources and Other References 11 Focus Questions:

Biofuel

Billy B., Kelsey G, Maleesha B. (Pictures and videos on this page by Maleesha B.)

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Helpful Terms About Biofuel

--Kcgray 05:55, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• Biofuels-produced from living organisms or metabolic by-products, must contain over 80% renewable materials
• Ethanol-an alternative fuel made from mostly grain and corn, which can be blended with gasoline; the most common biofuel in the world at present
• Biodeisel-an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fats, or other organic materials, which is to be used in deisel engines in place of petroleum or mixed with it

Electricity and Power

--Mmbutt2298 22:11, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Biomass is broken down in anaerobic digestion to make methane. Then it can be harvested and burned to generate heat and power or can be used to power certain automotive vehicles.

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Benefits of Biofuel

--Kcgray 21:48, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

• Cleaner and much less gas released as compared to petroleum
• Provides waste products like grease from restaurants to become renewable energy sources, reducing the amount of waste they must have destroyed or put into landfills
• Can be blended with petroleum or used alone as a means to fuel automobiles, tractors, heating/AC systems in homes, and more
• Can be made at home by anyone who can follow a recipe and get their hands on
• Can be used as an alternative fuel for any car engine that uses petroleum
• Farmers within the United States can produce what is necessary to make biofuel, so we would be less dependent on foreign sources, which will benefit our economy
• Biofuels consume carbon dioxide when being grown, which makes up for carbon dioxide released when they are burned.
• Biodiesel and ethanol can be found more commonly at local gas stations as another fuel source
• Certain types of biofuels are being developed and explored which would not use corn oil. One such biofuel is made from algae grown in plastic tubes in a greenhouse, using photosynthesis to grow algae without letting it collect in one place. This fuel is so far effective as an alternative fuel, does not require food sources like corn to be “wasted”, and can be produced in nonfertile areas, so it would not use land that could be used for farming. (See video below)

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Negative Aspects of Biofuel

--Kcgray 21:49, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

• Ethanol itself releases very little environmentally harmful gases, but the process it takes to make ethanol often releases just as much harmful gas as would have been released by the same amount of petroleum.
• Biofuels that have a corn oil base would require a lot more corn to be grown. Globally, many people need more food, so it may not be very environmentally friendly to take what could be consumed as food and instead use it as fuel.
• At gas stations, biofuels are often more expensive than diesel and petroleum products.

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Biofuel Today

--Kcgray 05:55, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• The United States uses around 26% of the world's energy, yet only accounts for about 5% of global population.
• Fossil fuels are being used at a rate 100,000 times the rate they can be naturally formed.
• University of Minnesota Professor of Ecology David Tilman believes that "if we use all of our corn and all of our soybeans just to make biofuels, we'll only be meeting about ten percent of our national transportation gasoline and diesel demand." [6]
• Europe uses and produces more biodiesel than the United States, but the United States produces more ethanol. Member states of the European Union make about 89% of the world's total biodiesel, yet biodiesel only allows 1% of all transportation in Europe. Ethanol, which is considered less desirable than biodiesel by many, allow for about 3% of light-vehicle transport fuel in the U.S. [7]

Where Is Biofuel Produced Best?

William Brooksher

There are many places in the world that are more suitable to produce electricity than biofuels. Biofuels are simply not as efficient to produce in areas that do not contain the amount of biological material needed to produce them, but have a generous water supply to generate substantial electricity.

Is Biofuel Renewable or Sustainable?

William Brooksher

Biofuels are considered a renewable and somewhat sustainable source of energy. Biodeisel and ethanol are produced from grain, corn and other plants/crops such as sugarcane. As long as crops remained successful, biofuel could be produced regularly. The only problem with this is the great amount of materials needed in the process of making these fuels.

Biofuel News and Related Articles

William Brooksher and --Kcgray 07:23, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

There are several issues that arise in the discussions of using biofuels. The high output of carbon emissions released by these fuels, soil erosion from production, deforestation, and the use of valuable food sources and fertile land make these fuels a controversial alternative to petroleum products.

• Jicaro Fruit [8]

Barba, D. (2008). Jicaro: A Mirauclous Fruit. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://www.ethanolexpertise.com/jicaro2.html

• Biofuels and the Greenhouse Threat [9]

Rosenthal, E. (2008). Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from The New York Times Web site: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html

• Enzymes That Can Help the Environment [10]

University of Maryland (2008, March 11). Major Advance In Biofuel Technology: Trash Today, Ethanol Tomorrow. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164901.htm

Sources and Other References

--Kcgray 06:58, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• Baue, B. (2006). Biofuel May Not Be Sustainability Pancea, According to Banj Sarasin Report. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from Social Funds Web site: http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2073.html
• Biofuel Benefits Go Beyond Environment. (2006). Retrieved February 17, 2009, from Forbes’ Oxford Analytica: http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/07/biofuel-benefit-ethanol-cx_0410oxford.html
• Energy Co2: Renewable Energy. (2006). Retrieved February 17, 2009, from Allianz Web site: http://knowledge.allianz.com/nopi_downloads/downloads/renewables_interview_hunt.pdf
• Energy Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://www.solarenergy.org/resources/energyfacts.html
• Gable, C., & Gable, S. (2009). What Is Biodeisel?. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/a/whatsbiodiesel.htm
• The Globalist. (2006). The Global Benefits of Biofuel. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from The Globalist: http://www.theglobalist.com/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=5409
• Penland, J. (2006). Biofuel Energy. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from ScienCentral Archive Web site: http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?language=english&type=&article_id=218392821

Focus Questions:

• What are the two main types of biofuel?
• What are some ways to produce biodiesel that are currently being researched?
• How can an 'average joe' use biofuel to help the environment?
• Based on the articles and information provided, do you think the U.S. government will pay more money to develop biofuel potential in order to reduce economic and environmental costs in the future?
• What are some positive things about biofuel? What are some negative things?