Biofuel: An alternative to fossil fuel for alleviating world energy and economic crises

Abstract

The time has come when it is desirable to look for alternative energy resources to confront the global energy crisis. Consideration of the increasing environmental problems and the possible crisis of fossil fuel availability at record high prices dictate that some changes will need to occur sooner rather than later. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is just another example of the environmental threats that fossil fuels pose. This paper is an attempt to explore various bio-resources such as corn, barley, oat, rice, wheat, sorghum, sugar, safflower, and coniferous and non-coniferous species for the production of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel). In order to assess the potential production of biofuel, in this paper, countries are organized into three groups based on: (a) geographic areas; (b) economic development; and(c) lending types, as classified by the World Bank. First, the total fossil fuel energy consumption and supply and possible carbon emission from burning fossil fuel is projected for these three groups of countries. Second, the possibility of production of biofuel from grains and vegetative product is projected. Third, a comparison of fossil fuel and biofuel is done to examine energy sustainability issues.

Nitrous oxide emissions associated with ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria abundance in fields of switchgrass with and without intercropped alfalfa

“…Due to microbial transformation of N fertilizer (Stehfest and Bouwman, ), agriculture contributes approximately 70% of anthropogenic N 2 O, with total global emissions of 1.4–3.3 Tg N 2 O‐N yr −1 (IPCC, ). Thus, a sustainable bioenergy agriculture will require better management of N to reduce the energy and environmental costs associated with current practices (Bhattarai et al ., ).…”

Engineering E. coli strain for conversion of short chain fatty acids to bioalcohols

“…Finding different means for production of biofuel molecules will help in gradual shift from usage of fossil fuels [1]. Ethanol so far has served the purpose of alternative fuel due to its easy and cost effective manufacturing process [2].…”

Translational plant proteomics: A perspective

“…Biofuels are liquid gaseous fuels primarily derived from plant biomass. Different factors ranging from the changing climate, rising fuel prices, and to a general awareness among the public for using renewable energy sources had generated interest in plants/crops as sources for biofuels (ethanol and diesel) [for review see [115][116][117]. Among crops, maize, sugarcane, and rapeseed are major sources of "green energy".…”