4.6 Biofuel

A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation of fossil fuels. Biofuels can be derived directly from plants, or indirectly from agricultural, commercial, domestic, and/or industrial wastes. Renewable biofuels generally involve contemporary carbon fixation, such as those that occur in plants or microalgae through the process of photosynthesis.

Other renewable biofuels are made through the use or conversion of biomass. This biomass can be converted to convenient energy-containing substances in 3 different ways:

• Thermal conversion generates fuel in solid form
• Chemical conversion generates fuel in liquid form
• Biochemical conversion generates fuel in gas form

This new biomass can also be used directly for biofuels.
(Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel)

Biofuels and bioprospecting for beginners - Craig A. Kohn

(Source : http://ed.ted.com/lessons/biofuels-and-bioprospecting-for-beginners-craig-a-kohn#watch)

Quiz : How much did you learn from this video?

Recommended articles or reports :

• Electropaedia - Electricity Generation from Biofuels
  Theory and technology of biofuels