Open AccessBioethanol and biodiesel: Alternative liquid fuels for future generations
Author(s) -
Sivakumar Ganapathy,
Vail Daniel R.,
Xu Jianfeng,
Burner David M.,
Lay Jackson O.,
Ge Xumeng,
Weathers Pamela J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.200900061
Subject(s) - biofuel , biodiesel , energy security , biomass (ecology) , fossil fuel , environmental science , population , waste management , food security , agriculture , natural resource economics , environmental pollution , bioenergy , renewable energy , environmental protection , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering , ecology , biology , economics , biochemistry , catalysis , demography , sociology
The global population is expected to increase by approximately 3 billion people by 2050. With this increase in population, industry, transportation the cost of fossil fuels will grow dramatically. New technologies are needed for fuel extraction using feedstocks that do not threaten food security, cause minimal or no loss of natural habitat and soil carbon. At the same time, waste management has to be improved and environmental pollution should be minimized or eliminated. Liquid biofuels such as lignocellulosic‐based ethanol from plant biomass and algal‐based biodiesel are sustainable, alternative biofuels that could stabilize national security and provide clean energy for future generations. Ideally, the technology should also foster recycling of agricultural feedstocks and improve soil fertility and human health. This article provides updated information on the energy potential and breadth of liquid biofuel biotechnology.