What are biofuels, advantages and disadvantages

The biofuelsor also called BiocarbativesThey are mixtures of substances of organic origin that are used as fuels for obtaining energy. Derive from biomassthat is, of organic matter that originates and accumulates during biological processes such as photosynthesis.

The advantage of biofuels is that, in addition to replacing a part of the consumption of fossil fuels, reduce the impact produced For these, such as CO2 levels that are emitted to the atmosphere through its combustion. Actually, the CO2 emission It is the same in both, the difference is that in the production and development process the materials that will produce the biomass destined for biofuels absorb this CO2 produced.

To obtain biocarbons, various plant species are used, such as:

• Soy
• Corn
• The sugarcane.
• The cassava.
• Sunflower
• Eucalyptus.
• Las Palmeras.
• Los Pinos.
• Algae oil.

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The biofuels can be classified as three large groups depending on the raw material used and the production process: biofuels of first, second and third generation.

• First generation biofuels: They are those that have their origin in agricultural crops used in obtaining products for human consumption such as sugar, starch, vegetable oil such as palm oil or animal fats. Production systems are simpler and more economical, however, it has serious limitations because they could endanger food supply, as well as biodiversity.
• Second generation biofuels: They arise before the great demand for biofuels and are obtained from biomass of lignocellulosic nature, that is, of woody or fibrous nature. For this reason, even if they suppose emissions saving, their production is more expensive and complicated than that of first generation. This group of biofuels occurs with crops that are not destined for food or that are considered waste such as used oil, stems, fruit peels, wraps or pods or wood chips.
• Third generation biofuels: They also come from the biomass of non -edible products or waste, but in this category the microalgae are also included. In this case for its production, molecular biology techniques are used.

Among the most popular, used and developed biofuels we can find:

• He Bioethanol: It is generated through the alcoholic fermentation of sugars found in some plant species such as sugar cane, beet or some cereal species.
• He Biodieselon the other hand, it occurs from vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, soybeans, canola, jatroph. In addition, these plant species are grown in order to be used as biodiesel.
• Biopropanol or biobutanol: These two are less popular but the research is to achieve its development for its employment, together with bioethanol and biodiesel, in the face of fossil fuels.

So far it seems that biofuels seem good substitutes for our conventional fuels that harm our environment because of the large amounts handled. Next, we specify some of the Advantages of biofuels:

• The cost of biofuels will be less than gasoline or diesel once the technology with which it is generated is available to a greater extent. In addition, the cost of raw materials will be practically null as they are waste.
• Production processes are more efficient; They consume and pollute less.
• It is a source that is much less limited than fossil fuels, which take thousands of years to be generated.
• Employment is generated at the local level.
• Carbon and sulfur emissions are reduced.
• The amounts of garbage decrease, since much of it can be used in the production of these biofuels.
• The security level is greater in terms of management and storage compared to fossil fuels.

Not everything was going to be advantages. Like everything, biofuels also have their bad side; His most unknown face. In order not to give you a biased vision on the matter, here are some of the reasons why, for many, these energy sources despite being renewable They cannot be considered as “non -pollutants”:

• Because of nitrogen fertilizers used in cultivation fields, biofuels of plant origin can result in a Increased nitrogen oxide emissions. In addition, this can cause contamination of groundwater with nitrites and nitrates.
• Biofuels provide less energy than fossil fuels to equal amounts, so need much more raw material To match these energy levels.
• Some authors consider that the use of cultivation fields for plant species for biofuel puts into play crops fields For human food, making its price rise.
• When needing higher cultivation surfaces, the loss of forest areasCO2 consumers. In its origin, the idea was to use the remains of agricultural activities, but as everything, with their promotion it was led to the destroying natural spaces to create these plantations.
• As with all activities related to agriculture, they need Large amounts of water for irrigation of plant species.
• During the production of biofuels, fossil fuels are used, which, paradoxically, for the moment results in the balance of CO2 emissions is positive, also taking into account the deforestation that adds to the production chain.

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