Second‐generation biofuels and local bioenergy systems

Abstract

First-generation biofuels, mainly from corn and other food-based crops are being used as a direct substitute for fossil fuels in transport. However, they are available in limited volumes that do not make them serious replacements for petroleum. Second-generation biofuels from forest and crop residues, energy crops and municipal and construction waste, will arguably reduce net carbon emission, increase energy effi ciency and reduce energy dependency, potentially overcoming the limitations of fi rst-generation biofuels. Nevertheless, implementation of second-generation biofuels technology will require a sustainable management of energy, or development of local bioenergy systems. This study aims at identifying second-generation biofuel feedstock. It also provides information on the available technologies to produce second-generation biofuels. Finally it discusses the development of local bioenergy systems vs sustainable use of second-generation biofuels. Locally produced second-generation biofuels will exploit local biomass to optimize their production and consumption.

Bioremediation and biovalorisation of olive-mill wastes

“…As mentioned above, anaerobic digestion is a practical alternative for the treatment of TPOMW, which produces biogas (Borja et al 2006;Antizar-Ladislao and Turrion-Gomez 2008). As it has been reported for other agroindustrial residues, such as potato pulp (Zhu et al 2008) or cattle manure (Güngör-Demirci and Demirer 2004), anaerobic processes applied to OMWs, whether in one or two stages, must be selected according to the C/N ratio of the residues in order to obtain a satisfactory anaerobic degradation.…”

A Principal Component Analysis in Switchgrass Chemical Composition

“…Biofuel production is a promising alternative source of energy which provides advantages such as displacement of fossil-based fuels, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, among others [1]. Biofuels can be classified according to the type of biomass utilized as follows: (1) first-generation biofuels are produced from organic sources commonly used as food for human consumption (e.g., sorghum, corn, among others); (2) second-generation biofuels are obtained from a wide range of non-food sources such as agricultural and forest residues, energy crops, and municipal solid waste; and (3) third-generation biofuels commonly refer to biofuels produced from algae [2].…”

Limitations and Challenges for Wheat-Based Bioethanol Production

“…Starch-based ethanol production, although problematic, remains a mature technology capable of immediate contribution to the pressing global environmental and energy security needs. First-generation technologies are seen a s a n i n t e r m e d i a t e s t e p t o r e d u c e G H G emissions and to diversify transport energy security [Antizar-Ladislao & Turrion-Gomez, 2008] whose production, however, is an undeniable aid in development of an ethanol infrastructure. Until cellulosic ethanol becomes a commercial reality, starch-based production will likely be of growing significance in many countries liquid fuel supply, especially for nations possessing large surplus quantities of grain, such as the EU, Canada and the USA.…”