Biofuels - Biogas

What are the main issues with petroleum?

-Economic and energy security -Environmental impacts and climate change

Biofuels could theoretically displace how much of our petroleum consumption?

60% (but lol @ that actually happening)

What is the global biodiesel production capacity?

8 billion gallons

Biodiesel is produced via?

Acid- or base-catalyzed transesterification of lipids

Components of microplants

Algae, microbial oils, sewer sludge

Microorganisms responsible for making biogas

Archae, Acetogens, H-producing MO

Two types of biogas production pathways

Autotrophic and heterotrophic

Biodiesel generates less of what compared to petroleum diesel?

CO, sulfur oxides, particulates

Advantages of anaerobic digester

Cheap, easy to maintain, not affected much by inputs

Saponifiable lipids

Ester functional group, can be converted to FAMEs

Acid catalyzed transesterification

Fat/Oil + Fatty acids--(CH3OH/H2SO4)-->Fame + Glycerol

FAME

Fatty acid methyl esters

What is the top challenge for biodiesel production?

Feedstock availability (vegetable oil is better used in food)

Biodiesel

Fuel made from animal fats and/or plant oils

Advantages of biodiesel?

Less environmental impact, domestic energy supply, easy to make

Disadvantages of anaerobic digesters

Low yield, CO2 dilutes methane, H2S

What is biodiesel made from (chemistry level)?

Mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids

Anaerobic reactions are not favored in the presence of

Oxygen

Higher degree of saturation in fatty acids leads to

Poor cold flow, higher stability, higher cetane

Biogas

Production of methane and CO2 by anaerobic microorganisms

Plant oil sources

Soy, Canola, Corn, Cotton seed, etc

Trigylceride vs Phospholipid

The main difference is the carbon chain off the glycerol (found in both) and number of C-C double bonds

Biofuel

Transportation fuel which is in some way derived from biomass

Animal fats and oil sources

Yellow (unused) and brown (used) grease