Biofuel Production Technologies Critical Analysis For Sustainability

Production and utilization of sustainable energy toward maintaining a clean environment is a major challenge. At the same time, the continued depletion of fossil fuels and the global dependency on non-renewable fuels is a chief concern. Moreover, the long-term economic and environmental issues associated with the high utilization of fossil fuel, such as global warming, are also important, particularly in the context of the predicted increase in the global population to around 5 billion by 2050. In recent years, researchers have been investigating alternative, renewable fuels to replace fossil fuels. Of the various options, biofuels are especially attractive due to their low production costs and the fact that they are pollution free. Also known as transportation fuels, their energy is derived from biological resources or through the biological processes. Biofuels such as biohydrogen, biomethane, biogas, ethanol and butanol offer a number of advantages and can be economically produced from cellulosic biomass. As such, they can play a vital role in sustainably meeting future energy demands. Biofuels have the potential to become a global primary energy source, offering significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as opportunities to increase economic and social development in rural communities and reduce the problems associated with waste disposal. However, low yields and lack of process technology are some of the aspects that need to be addressed. This book offers an overview of existing biofuels and the technologies to solve the problems associated with their practical implementation. Evaluating the biofuel options and discussing the opportunities and risks in relation to resources, technologies, practices, markets and policy, it provides insights into the development of economically viable bioenergy industries.

Sustainability in Biofuel Production Technology Explore current challenges and the latest technologies in biofuel production In Sustainability in Biofuel Production Technology, a team of engineers and chemists delivers a thorough and accessible exploration of the source of renewable energy biofuels poised to help conserve natural resources and limit the impact of fossil fuel use. The book offers detailed information about the challenges and trends in biodiesel production and includes contributions from leading researchers in the field of biodiesel production. Readers will explore aviation biofuels, biofuel production technologies, reactor design and safety considerations, and the modelling and simulation of biofuel production as they move through the book’s 14 chapters. The authors also analyze the performance of biofuels along with cost estimations and mathematical modeling of various process parameters. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to biofuels, including their history, generation, classification, and relevant technologies In-depth presentations of the production technologies of biofuels, including chemical and biological production processes Comprehensive explorations of the utilization of biofuels in aviation, including performance analyses and safety considerations Fulsome discussions of key issues and challenges in biofuels production pathways and the environmental effects of biofuels Perfect for academic researchers and industrial scientists working in the biofuels, bioenergy, catalysis, and materials science sectors, Sustainability in Biofuel Production Technology will also be suitable for members of regulatory bodies in the bioenergy sector.

Biofuels for a More Sustainable Future: Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Multi-criteria Decision Making provides a comprehensive sustainability analysis of biofuels based on life cycle thinking and develops various multi-dimensional decision-making techniques for prioritizing biofuel production technologies. Taking a transversal approach, the book combines life cycle sustainability assessment, life cycle assessment, life cycle costing analysis, social life cycle assessment, sustainability metrics, triple bottom line, operations research methods, and supply chain design for investigating the critical factors and key enablers that influence the sustainable development of biofuel industry. This book will equip researchers and policymakers in the energy sector with the scientific methodology and metrics needed to develop strategies for viable sustainability transition. It will be a key resource for students, researchers and practitioners seeking to deepen their knowledge on energy planning and current and future trends of biofuel as an alternative fuel. Provides an innovative approach to promoting sustainable development in biofuel production by linking supply chain design and decision support with the life cycle perspective Features case studies and examples that illustrate the theory and methods developed Includes material on corporate social responsibility and economic analysis of biofuels that is highly useful to policy-makers and administrators in both government and enterprise sectors

This volume focuses on technological advances relevant to establishing biofuels as a viable alternative to fossil fuels by overcoming current limitations. The progressive depletion of fossil fuels due to their large-scale utilization and their environmental consequences, notably global warming, increase the need for sustainable and cleaner energy options. Renewable biofuels – like biohydrogen, biomethane, biogas, ethanol and butenol – represent attractive energy sources to meet the growing global demand, thanks to sustainable and cost-efficient production approaches based on cellulosic biomass. Currently, the commercialization of these technologies is hindered by technical and economic limitations, such as biomass complexity and pre-treatment, enzyme hydrolysis, production efficiency as well as storage and cost. As such, this book presents economically viable and sustainable approaches to improve existing biofuel technologies and appeals to anyone with an interest in biofuels as renewable energy options and their practical implementation.

Environmental Sustainability of Biofuels: Prospects and Challenges provides a comprehensive sustainability analysis of biofuels based on lifecycle analysis and develops various multi-dimensional decision-making techniques for prioritizing biofuel production technologies. Taking a transversal approach, the book combines lifecycle sustainability assessment, lifecycle assessment, lifecycle costing analysis, social lifecycle assessment, sustainability metrics, triple bottom lines, operational research methods, and supply chain designs for investigating the critical factors and critical enablers that influence the sustainable development of biofuel industry. This book will be a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners seeking to deepen their knowledge of biofuels as an alternative fuel. It will equip researchers and policymakers in the energy sector with the scientific methodology and metrics needed to develop strategies for a viable sustainability transition. Provides decision-making and planning tools for the bioenergy sector Focuses on the applied aspects of environmental sustainability, offering a guide to the implementation of standard and new analyses in the commercial sector Gives readers the tools to understand the implications of policy and regulation in different locations rather than providing location-specific information that is quickly out-of-date

While energy prices, energy security, and climate change are front and center in the national media, these issues are often framed to the exclusion of the broader issue of sustainability-ensuring that the production and use of biofuels do not compromise the needs of future generations by recognizing the need to protect life-support systems, promote economic growth, and improve societal welfare. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of biofuel production and use on water quality and quantity, soils, wildlife habitat and biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, public health, and the economic viability of rural communities.

This book focuses on the different kinds of biofuels and biofuel resources. Biofuels represent a major type of renewable energy. As part of a larger bio-economy, they are closely linked to agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. Biofuels have the potential to improve regional energy access, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to climate protection. Further, this alternative form of energy could revitalize the forestry and agricultural sector and promote the increased use of renewable resources as raw materials in a range of industrial processes. Efforts are continuously being made to develop economically competitive biofuels, and microbes play important roles in the production of biofuels from various bioresources. This book elaborates on recent advances in existing microbial technologies and on sustainable approaches to improving biofuel production processes. Additionally, it examines trends in, and the limitations of, existing processes and technologies. The book offers a comprehensive overview of microbial bioresources, microbial technologies, advances in bioconversion and biorefineries, as well as microbial and metabolic engineering for efficient biofuel production. Readers will also learn about the environmental impacts and the influence of climate change on the sustainability of biofuel production. This book is intended for researchers and students whose work involves biorefinery technologies, microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental biology and related fields.