Moreover, the crops that are grown to produce biomass absorb carbon dioxide which helps clean the air. A 2009 study suggests that, in the rush to produce enough corn-based ethanol to meet federal alternative energy requirements, biofuel demand is already putting stress on fresh water supplies in the Great Plains and central Southwest [source: McKenna]. 19 January 2011. "Environmental Effects of Genetically Modified Food Crops -- Recent Experiences." If farmers are incentivized to plant crops that are not well suited for the location, they may end up needing more water than any other crops would. The transition to biofuels will affect especially economic sectors of agriculture, manufacture, reprocessing, recycling, and transportation. Most biofuels are formed from plant matter. It isn't as effective a fuel as traditional gasoline. Ignorance Conclusion (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.afpc.tamu.edu/pubs/2/446/RR%2006-2.pdf, McKenna, Phil. Additionally, the amount of water used in biofuel production is also affected by the specific farming practices used. Unlike the first-generation ethanol biofuel produced from food crops, second-generation cellulosic ethanol is derived from low-value biomass that possesses a high cellulose content, including wood chips, crop residues, and municipal waste. One way to deal with this lies in simple diplomacy: The globalization of world commerce means that today it is easier than ever to transfer food supplies from one point of the world to another in response to increased need. (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/growing-zone-information/growingzoneinfo.html, Carey, John et al. "The Ripple Effect: Biofuels, Food Security and the Environment." These landfills not only spread foul smell but also contaminate underground water sources. Industry researchers had found an answer in palm oil, a relatively easy-to-produce biofuel source. Biodiesel produces less toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases than petroleum diesel. The organic material that makes biofuels is made of carbon dioxide absorbed by plants from the atmosphere as they grew. Though ethanol and other biofuels are often promoted as clean, low-cost alternatives to gasoline, industrial corn and soy farming still have a harmful impact on the environment, just in a. This lessens the risk of respiratory illnesses due to reduced air pollution. Its application in transport industry would cut a big part of the air pollution originating from this growing industry [2]. Diverting that waste to anaerobic digestion would turn a cost into an opportunity, generating revenue from energy production and co-products. Since such feedstock material can be replenished readily, biofuel is considered to be a source of renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Biofuel can generate electricity and can be created from various waste products collected from the farming industry. Your IP: Will alternative fuels deplete global corn supplies? Advantages of Biofuels Biofuels costs have been declining and are likely to be far cheaper than petrol and other fossil fuels. As a result, converting plant biomass to ethanol requires processing much larger amounts of feed stock to produce the same amount of biofuel than conventional biofuels. "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. We are working hard to improve our content. Biodiesel is not much better. First, there's the issue of yield. Long-time monoculture farms must use much more fertilizer than sustainable peers, and this increases water pollution. This is not the selective breeding they have followed for years; genetically modified crops are developed in the laboratory to tolerate herbicides better, fight off pests, and higher yields. Partial combustion is a fuel-burning with insufficient oxygen to convert the biomass entirely to carbon dioxide and water. Lets have a look at the main advantages of biofuels over fossil fuels: Biofuels replenish over time, whereas fossil fuels are non-renewable and will eventually run out. Companies such as Ineos Bio are turning trash into other chemicals such as plastics. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Biomass energy production takes a lot of space, money, and effort 6. Biogas reduces Soil and water pollution. "Essentially, we intersect [with the waste] before it goes to the landfill, where it would just contribute to the methane gas already coming from there," says Ineos business manager, Dan Cummings. Biofuel Disadvantage : Environmental Impact. These differences in state at a given temperature come from the oils' molecular makeup. However, ready access to food imports, and the ease of exporting, hinge on a wide range of political and social factors. Let us now have a look at the disadvantages also. The production of biofuels can compete with food production for land and resources, which can lead to higher food prices. For example, if crops grown for biofuels are planted on land that could be used for growing food crops. Biofuels are a renewable resource, so they can be replenished over time. Despite the development of various technologies for converting waste tires into biofuels, there is a need for more cost-effective and efficient methods that can be scaled up for commercial production. The development of a biofuels industry has great potential to stimulate economic development in rural areas with less job possibilities by creating new markets for crops and other agricultural products. Not every country has vast crude oil resources. The production and use of biofuels generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than the production and use of highly polluting fossil fuels. This is a problem that biofuel crops, food crops, gardens, and lawns have in common all over the world. They produce industrial pollution. Synfuels still remain more expensive to produce than conventional fuels, mostly because more research, development and investment are necessary to make production economically viable. Quick Navigation for Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels, [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK196452/. List of Disadvantages of Algae Biofuel. It took millions of years for organic materials to transform into fossil fuels stores we currently mine for our energy needs. In this respect, ethanol made from corn represents a relatively small energy gain; the energy gain from sugarcane is greater and that from cellulosic ethanol or algae biodiesel could be even greater. The liquid biofuel in greatest production is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is made by fermenting starch or sugar. While biofuels certainly have many potential benefits, there are also a number of challenges and trade-offs associated with their production and long-term use at larger scale. Let us know if you liked this article. In theory, this sounds like a terrific way to keep up with biofuel crop demand. One of the key challenges in making the use of biofuels more sustainable over the long term is ensuring that they are sourced from feedstocks that have a low carbon footprint and are not in competition with food production. "Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S." July 1, 2010. "Oil Yields and Characteristics." So, it could be a threat to food security or access to adequate nutritious food for the population. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. The major disadvantage of fuel ethanol, however, is its production cost. In general, biofuels can be a reliable energy source if they are produced and used in a responsible and sustainable manner. July 30, 2000. Fueling homes, businesses, and vehicles with biofuels are less expensive compared to fossil fuels. For example, the density of corn-based ethanol is higher than gasoline; fuel injectors must be larger in an ethanol-only engine to suit the fuel flow of a comparable gasoline engine. Biofuels are also used with success for heating buildings. As a renewable energy source, plant-based biofuels in principle make little net contribution to global warming and climate change; the carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) that enters the air during combustion will have been removed from the air earlier as growing plants engage in photosynthesis. Pure ethanol and biodiesel are nontoxic and biodegradable, and if spilled, they break down into harmless substances. Numerous unsaturated oils have undesirable burn properties. A number of manufacturers sell biodiesel and grease car conversion components, and some others find methods to overcome the gelling problem. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~agroeco3/modern_agriculture.html, Burpee. The New York Times. However, most of the time, the word biomass simply signifies the biological raw material from which the fuel is made, or some kind of thermally-chemically changed solid end product, like torrefied pellets or briquettes. Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial combustion of biomass. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Disadvantages of Biofuels. Loss of natural habitat can change the hydrology, increase erosion, and generally reduce biodiversity of wildlife areas. Given all the negative effects, ethanol which is derived from crops does not make economical sense as a mainstream biofuel. 1. A number of existing power facilities burn grass, wood, or other kinds of biomass. Biofuels are generally of two categories: gaseous biofuel and liquid biofuel. One alternative involves the use of highly diverse mixtures of species, with the North American tallgrass prairie as a specific example. Technical Challenges Perhaps the simplest drawback of biofuels is that it is not petroleum-based fuel so that they will work differently in engines developed for petroleum-based fuel. Converting degraded agricultural land that is out of production to such high-diversity biofuel sources could increase wildlife area, reduce erosion, cleanse waterborne pollutants, store carbon dioxide from the air as carbon compounds in the soil, and ultimately restore fertility to degraded lands. Many biofuel crops are applied to produce biodiesel. When biofuels are burned, they produce significantly less carbon output and fewer toxins than carbon fuels. "It's a pittance being spent on reducing our dependence on oil than putting our boys in harm's way overseas," says Coskata's Wesley Bolsen, chief marketing officer and vice president for government affairs. The carbon footprint that the use of biofuels leaves is quite substantial. Biofuel is produced from renewable resources and relatively less-flammable than fossil diesel. Disadvantages 1. Bioethanol is a type of alcohol produced by fermentation, often from carbohydrates made in sugar or starchy crops like corn, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum. Compared with making ethanol from crops, the environmental benefits of making it from waste are clear: It diminishes the demand for landfills and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Because of the higher gel point of many biodiesel producing oils than petroleum, it is difficult, if not impossible, to start a biodiesel engine in cold weather. The process creates a synthetic gas (syngas), which can then be used for a wide variety of applications. 6 May 2015. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. Land use for biofuels may not cause a severe shortage of food; however, it will put pressure on the current increase of crops. This means large scale production to supply for a large population is still not possible. The first generation biofuels are produced from food crops grown on arable land. For this and other reasons, perennials such as switchgrass and miscanthus have gained in popularity as feedstock for biofuels, as they leave much more ground cover after harvest for the prevention of soil loss. They are found in liquid, solid or gas states. On the other hand, burning garbage produces air pollution and releases the chemicals and substances in the waste into the air. Producers that focus on a single cash crop each year face an increased risk of pest development, water pollution, and catastrophic failure. Therefore, the use of biofuels is less of a drain on the wallet. Although current gas reservoirs will remain available for many years, they will deplete in anot-too-distant future. The Pros of Biofuels List of Cons of Biofuels 1. Being forced to import oil creates problems for their economy. You may think that biofuels are used mainly in transport, but thats not all. As the demand for biofuels increases, it is also possible that they will become cheaper in the future. Studies show that biofuels decrease greenhouse gases by up to 65 percent. Ethanol can be used instead of gasoline in many cars. The production of biofuels often leads to land use changes, such as the conversion of natural habitats to cropland. Biogas and syngas are two types of gaseous biofuels. But since many popular biofuel crops, such as corn and soybeans, are also popular food sources for much of the world, it stands to reason that the problems related to monoculture could get much worse as consumers demand more biofuel. There are a few potential negative effects of biofuels on the environment and economy that need to be considered when forming an opinion about their use in the future. In this regard, cellulosic biomass is considered to be more beneficial. For the billions of people who live on only a few dollars per day, even a small increase in food prices could put their access to proper nutrition at risk. But in much the same way that oranges will never be a cash crop in Alaska, there will always be some regions that simply can't support large-scale production of biofuel-rich crops. Disadvantages of Biofuels Production of biofuels can be quite inefficient Large amounts of raw materials have to be used Significant greenhouse gas emissions in the production chain Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides High initial investments required Increase in global food prices Global hunger and starvation High water demand In the United States ethanol biofuel is made primarily from corn (maize) grain, and it is typically blended with gasoline to produce gasohol, a fuel that is 10 percent ethanol. The second most common liquid biofuel is biodiesel, which is made primarily from oily plants (such as the soybean or oil palm) and to a lesser extent from other oily sources (such as waste cooking fat from restaurant deep-frying). The most common types of liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. A prime example of this occurred in the early 2000s. Making biofuels from waste makes dollars--and sense, Edmonton is Canada's chief oil city as well as the capital of Alberta, the province that hosts the bulk of the country's tar sands. Potential drawbacks include changes to land use patterns that may increase GHG emissions, pressure on water resources, air and water pollution, and increased food costs. Less garbage in landfills. Farmers of corn, cotton, and soybeans, all possible sources of biofuel, are increasingly planting genetically modified types of those plants. First, there is the issue of output. . "Waste as a feedstock [for biofuels] has a number of advantages," says Enerkem's co-founder and chief technology officer Esteban Chornet, a former engineer at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Another type of biofuel is biodiesel. It takes up to 1.4 gallons of ethanol to replicate the mileage that 1 gallon of gasoline can provide. The use of waste biomass to generate energy can decrease waste management problems, pollution, greenhouse gaseous emissions and the use of fossil fuels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determines bioenergy as a renewable energy form. For example, emphasis on ethanol derived from corn is shifting grasslands and brushlands to corn monocultures, and emphasis on biodiesel is bringing down ancient tropical forests to make way for oil palm plantations. Consumers living in a low-producing region need to have biofuel by moving through pipes or trucks to them. Moisture is more likely to be absorbed by biofuels than fossil diesel, which causes problems in cold weather. Easy Guide to Cooling Tower Efficiency & How To Increase it, Parts of Boiler and Their Function in the Boilers, Types of Alternator: Features, Advantages, and Vast Usage, Ball Valve Parts: An Easy-to-Understand Guide (2022 Updated). A number of factors play into any fuel's cost, both in economic and environmental terms, and biofuel doesn't always come out as the most sustainable option. When they are used as fuel, they leave gummy residue in the engine. In evaluating the economic benefits of biofuels, the energy required to produce them has to be taken into account. A way to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases is to use biofuels around the world. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. "Nature has not given us that selectivity to shift syngas to ethanol," notes chemical engineer Chornet, who started Enerkem in 2000 to make fuel from forestry residues, inspired by his father on Spain's island of Majorca, who made electricity by burning wood waste from his sawmill in the 1930s.
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