Biodiesel: Feedstocks, Technologies, Economics and Barriers

Biodiesel: Feedstocks, Technologies, Economics and Barriers
Author: Armen B. Avagyan
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2019-05-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811357463

Air pollution policy is closely connected with climate change, public health, energy, transport, trade, and agriculture, and generally speaking, the Earth has been pushed to the brink and the damage is becoming increasingly obvious. The transport sector remains a foremost source of air pollutants – a fact that has stimulated the production of biofuels. This book focuses on the biodiesel industry, and proposes a modification of the entire manufacturing chain that would pave the way for further improvements. Oil derived from oilseed plantations/crops is the most commonly used feedstock for the production of biodiesel. At the same time, the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering and 178 scientists in the Netherlands have determined that some biofuels, such as diesel produced from food crops, have led to more emissions than those produced by fossil fuels. Accordingly, this book re-evaluates the full cycle of biodiesel production in order to help find optimal solutions. It confirms that the production and use of fertilizers for the cultivation of crop feedstocks generate considerably more GHG emissions compared to the mitigation achieved by using biodiesel. To address this fertilization challenge, projecting future biofuel development requires a scenario in which producers shift to an organic agriculture approach that includes the use of microalgae. Among advanced biofuels, algae’s advantages as a feedstock include the highest conversion of solar energy, and the ability to absorb CO2 and pollutants; as such, it is the better choice for future fuels. With regard to the question of why algae’s benefits have not been capitalized on for biofuel production, our analyses indicate that the sole main barrier to realizing algae’s biofuel potential is ineffective international and governmental policies, which create difficulties in reconciling the goals of economic development and environmental protection.

Assessments of Biofuel Sustainability: Air Pollution and Health Impacts

Assessments of Biofuel Sustainability: Air Pollution and Health Impacts
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2007
Genre: Air
ISBN:

Accelerating biofuel production has been promoted as an opportunity to enhance energy security, offset greenhouse gas emissions and support rural economies. However, large uncertainties remain in the impacts of biofuels, particularly, on air quality and human health. Sugarcane ethanol is one of the most widely used biofuels, and Brazil is its largest producer. Here a systematic framework, including emission modeling, air quality simulation, and health impact assessment was developed to quantify direct and indirect air-pollution and health impacts throughout the life-cycle of Brazilian biofuel. It was found Brazilian biofuel with dominant effects of pre-harvesting burning and indirect land-use change has increasing life-cycle emissions (non-GHG) due to expanding sugarcane areas. Current satellite-based approaches may not account for sugarcane burning emissions due to the small scale of these fires relative to satellite resolution and assumptions regarding fuel loadings. Results also suggest that Brazilian ethanol would cause greater health impacts than US conventional gasoline and cellulosic ethanol if current practices of sugarcane harvesting and land-use change management remain. Effective controls of deforestation, better management of pre-harvesting burning practices, and utilization of agricultural residues, e.g. sugarcane trash and bagasse, would be possible solutions to improve air quality. However, the cost and the maturity of technologies might be the issues. The research framework may assist the future determination on the sustainability of other advanced fuels.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Biofuels

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Biofuels
Author: Alexandros Gasparatos
Publisher:
Total Pages: 375
Release: 2012
Genre: Biomass energy
ISBN: 9781139539906

"Biofuels are currently in the middle of a heated academic and public policy debate. Biofuel production has increased fivefold in the past decade and is expected to further double by 2020. Most of this expansion will happen in developing nations. This volume is the first of its kind, providing a comprehensive overview of the biofuel debate in developing countries. The chapters are written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, exposing the key drivers and impacts of biofuel production and use. The book covers impacts as diverse as air pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, energy security, food security, greenhouse gas emissions, land use change, rural development, water consumption and other socioeconomic issues. Its wide focus accommodates examples from countries in Africa, America and Asia. As such, this book will become an indispensable companion to academics, practitioners and policy makers who wish to know more about biofuel issues in the developing world"--Provided by publisher.

Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries

Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries
Author: Gordon McGranahan
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2012-05-23
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1136571833

In developing countries the price of rapid growth is all too often noxious airborne pollution, which annually contributes to a disturbing number of avoidable deaths. In recent decades, however, there has been considerable progress in the epidemiology of air pollution, significant changes in international air pollution guidelines, and the emergence of more systematic approaches to air pollution control. While many of these advances have originated in affluent countries, there have been major developments in other parts of the world. In this book, a distinguished cast of leading researchers in both the scientific and policy dimensions of air pollution and health have synthesized the recent developments in the field and their relevance for public health in developing countries. The authors review studies from a wide range of Asian, African and Latin American countries and contrast the findings with those from Europe and North America. They also describe various tools and systems for air pollution management and emphasize approaches that can be used when data is scarce. With a clear focus on the scientific and technical aspects of air pollution and health, this book is essential reading for pollution and health policy-makers, researchers and others concerned with air pollution and health in developing countries.

Bioenergy And The Environment

Bioenergy And The Environment
Author: Janos Pasztor
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 425
Release: 2019-03-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 042969458X

This book shows in detail that environmental consequences of very large increases in biomass utilization could be serious, if they were carried out without proper management. It provides knowledge of adverse and beneficial effects that bioenergy systems have on the environment to energy planners.

The Nexus of Biofuels, Climate Change, and Human Health

The Nexus of Biofuels, Climate Change, and Human Health
Author: Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014-06-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780309292412

Liquid fuels are a major part of modern life. They supply energy for ground, water, and air transportation as well as power for industrial and farming machinery. But fossil fuels - the dominant liquid fuel in use for well over a century - have many disadvantages. The use of fossil fuels has obvious health downsides, such as emissions of pollutants that are directly harmful to health. The burning of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming, itself a long-term threat to human health. There have also been health concerns related to insecurity of liquid fuel supplies and the potential of international conflicts being caused by fuel scarcity. Furthermore, there are concerns that the world's large but still limited supply of fossil fuels could be strained by the increasing demand that results from societies around the world achieving greater prosperity. In the face of these concerns, new policies have been created that encourage the development of renewable sources of energy in general and biofuels in particular. In January 2013, the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine of the Institute of Medicine held a 2- day, interactive, public workshop on the intersection of biofuels, climate change, and human health. Workshop attendees explored public health issues related to the composition of traditional and alternative fuels and fuel additives, and they discussed the known and potential health impacts associated with the use of these fuels and fuel additives. The Nexus of Biofuels, Climate Change, and Human Health is the summary of that workshop. This report examines air, water, land use, food, and social impacts of biomass feedstock as an energy resource, and the state of the science and health policy implications of using different types (and generations) of biofuels as an energy source.

Environmental Impact of Biofuels

Environmental Impact of Biofuels
Author: Marco Aurelio Dos Santos Bernardes
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2011-09-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9533074795

This book aspires to be a comprehensive summary of current biofuels issues and thereby contribute to the understanding of this important topic. Readers will find themes including biofuels development efforts, their implications for the food industry, current and future biofuels crops, the successful Brazilian ethanol program, insights of the first, second, third and fourth biofuel generations, advanced biofuel production techniques, related waste treatment, emissions and environmental impacts, water consumption, produced allergens and toxins. Additionally, the biofuel policy discussion is expected to be continuing in the foreseeable future and the reading of the biofuels features dealt with in this book, are recommended for anyone interested in understanding this diverse and developing theme.