How to Turn Corn into Biofuel

If gas prices are too high for you and your car can run on ethanol E-85, you can try making your own biodiesel from corn. The process is complex and there are some security measures you need to know, but almost anyone can make biofuel for your car (or other) right in your own backyard.

What is Agribusiness?

Agribusiness is the human activities that use natural resources to fullfill their needs of their life. Agribusiness is a broad concept used to describe corporate agricultural enterprises individually and collectively. Agribusinesses are companies involved in one or more stages of the production of crops and livestock. In other words agribusiness is an economic perspective for agricultural activities.

Trends, Hurdles, and Potentials of Biofuel

Algae based biodiesel might be the futu

Trends, Hurdles, and Potentials of Biofuel - Recent development in the biofuel market. Few people interested in green technology have missed the large fuss regarding algae biodiesel production from microalgae considered by many the only alternative with potential of replacing the entire world consumption of fossil fuels by its own. It is still quite expensive but bioengineering and more efficient production swiftly reduces the gap. A researcher and friend of mine calculated that 76x76 km area of algae production would cover the entire fuel consumption needed for Sweden.

The Dual Benefits of Algae Farming

For the average citizen, algae are often viewed as a problematic growth within backyard swimming pools and local rivers and ponds. On the other hand, algae are now a hot topic among environmentalists as agroindustrial developments see them being used to sequester carbon dioxide and produce biofuels. 

About Palm Oil

Palm oil from Ghana with
its natural dark colour visible

Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of thefruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel (seed) of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the coconut (Cocos nucifera). Palm oil is naturally reddish in color because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene.

Palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil are three of the few highly saturated vegetable fats. Palm oil is semi-solid at room temperatures. Palm oil contains several saturated and unsaturated fats in the forms of glyceryl laurate (0.1%, saturated), myristate (1%, saturated), palmitate(44%, saturated), stearate (5%, saturated), oleate (39%, monounsaturated), linoleate (10%, polyunsaturated), and linolenate (0.3%, polyunsaturated). Palm kernel oil and coconut oil are more highly saturated than palm oil. Like all vegetable oils, palm oil does not containcholesterol (found in unrefined animal fats), although saturated fat intake increases both LDL and HDL cholesterol.

About Starch

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharideis produced by all green plants as an energy store. It is the most important carbohydrate in the human diet and is contained in such staple foods as potatoes, wheat, maize (corn), rice, and cassava.

Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuel Production

The many benefits of biofuels, such as energy independence, economic growth, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, will continue to increase the demand for and production of biofuels. Process optimization is still a key area for the biofuels industry, but in order to improve efficiencies and lower costs, focus must also be on reducing their carbon footprint.

About Wheat (1)

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Wheat (Triticum spp.)^[1] is a grass, originally from the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize (784 million tons) and rice (651 million tons).^[2] Globally, wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than either maize (corn) or rice, the other major cereals. In terms of total production tonnages used for food, it is currently second to rice as the main human food crop, and ahead of maize, after allowing for maize's more extensive use in animal feeds.

VW: Biodiesel statement

Standard forecourt fuel (BS EN590): approved

15 December 2008

Legislation introduced on 15 April 2008 insists that fuel suppliers must use at least 2.5 per cent biofuel in diesel production. Filling-station forecourts supply diesel (to the standard BS EN590) that can contain up to five per cent biodiesel and 95 per cent fossil fuel. Volkswagen Group approves the use of diesel fuel containing up to five per cent biodiesel in all of its diesel vehicles. The use of this fuel requires no modifications to the vehicle or changes to the vehicles’ maintenance schedules.

BIODIESEL: Understanding It's Potential and Limitations

Jim Glancey

Departments of Bioresources Engineering

and Mechanical Engineering

University of Delaware

Newark, DE 19716

About Biodiesel (2)

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Energy security

One of the main drivers for adoption of biodiesel is energy security. This means that a nation’s dependence on oil is reduced, and substituted with use of locally available sources, such as coal, gas, or renewable sources. Thus a country can benefit from adoption of biofuels, without a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. While the total energy balance is debated, it is clear that the dependence on oil is reduced. One example is the energy used to manufacture fertilizers, which could come from a variety of sources other than petroleum. The US NREL says that energy security is the number one driving force behind the US biofuels programme.[66] and the White House "Energy Security for the 21st Century" makes clear that energy security is a major reason for promoting biodiesel.[67] The EU commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, speaking at a recent EU biofuels conference, stressed that properly managed biofuels have the potential to reinforce the EU’s security of supply through diversification of energy sources.[68]

About Biodiesel (1)

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Bus run by biodiesel

Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically-reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat (tallow)) and alcohol. It can be used (alone, or blended with conventional petrodiesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles. Biodiesel is distinguished from the straight vegetable oil (SVO) (sometimes referred to as "waste vegetable oil", "WVO", "used vegetable oil", "UVO", "pure plant oil", "PPO") used (alone, or blended) as fuels in some converted diesel vehicles. "Biodiesel" is standardized as mono-alkyl ester.[1]

INDONESIA: Palm Oil Production Prospects Continue to Grow (1)

A significant change in the oil palm industry has taken place during the past season, as Indonesia surpassed Malaysia in production of palm oil and is now the world leader. This designation will continue and Indonesia’s production rate will outpace Malaysia for the foreseeable future. Personnel from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) conducted crop-assessment travel in the main palm oil production regions of Sumatra and West Kalimantan during August and September. The team met with palm oil estate managers, agricultural officials, researchers, and independent commodity analysts.