Biofuels+-+Misa

=Physics 11.4 presentations  = =__** B IOFUELS ** __=   

Biofue ls are solid, liquid or gaseous fuel obtained from biomass, living organisms, or from metabolic by-products like organic/food waste products. E.g--> oil-seed rape, cereal straw, gorse, spruce, etc...  A form of biofuel called biodiesel  is created via a chemical reaction with fats inside the biological source. The raw fat and oil is blended with a methanol or ethanol and a catalyst, like sodium hydroxide, through a process called transesterification . This chemical reaction creates esters and glycerol. The glycerol is a byproduct, an <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 133.1%;">d the <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 133.1%;">esters become the biodiesel. <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #095705; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 133.1%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 121%;">Other forms of biofuel, such as bioethers, can be made using the <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 133.1%;">fermentation <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 133.1%;"> process of basic plant matter, such as rapeseed and soybeans. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 121%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">**How does it work?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132.87%;">When the fuel is made, it can be used to make <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132.87%;">power, steam and heat. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132.87%;"> The fuel must be <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132.87%;">combusted <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132.87%;"> to release its energy - therefore biofuels involves some burning process that create emission. Hwever, these liquids are __clean-burning__ and put out fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuel. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 123.6%;">
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">What is it? **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">**Facts and figures** <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;"> **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Energy chang es** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 157.5%;">chemical--> kinetic, electrical, heat <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 121%;">Cleaner air, possibly better climate, and lower greenhouse gas emissions (although some say that the process to produce the fuel – including the machinery necessary to cultivate the crops and the plants to produce the fuel actually emits quite a large amount of carbon dioxide...)
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 121%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175.692%;"> <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #0c1279; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175.692%;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;">In order to be considered a biofuel, the fuel must contain **over 80% renewable material**. <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #b8fafa; color: #095705; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;">
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 145.2%; text-align: left;">Biofuels are considered to be **CO2 neutral**, as it does not add any carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere.
 * Environmental effects**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;"> __**Disadvantages:**__
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">Advantage ****<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">s and Disadvantages **
 * __<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Advantages: __**
 * **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 121%;">Renewable **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;">**Lower carbon emissions** - lower air pollution
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;">**Less expensive** - Once the technology is widely available, biofuels can be significantly less expensive than gasoline and other fossil fuels.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;">**Biodegradable** - biofuels are biodegradable and much safer to handle than traditional fuels, making spills less hazardous.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Low energy output** - Biofuels have a lower energy output than traditional fuels, so they require greater quantities to be consumed in order to produce the same energy level.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Availability** - Most vehicles are not equipped to run on biofuel products.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Smell** - Biofuel production produces strong smells, depending on the type of material used.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Water use** - massive quantities of water are needed for irrigation of biofuel crops, which could strain local and regional water sources

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