Biofuels...renewable primary products

Topics• Definition of biofuels• Different types of biofuels• Types of plants used worldwide • Rapeseed oil in Germany• Comparison to other fuels• Advantages and disadvantages of

biofuels

Definition of biofuels• Produced from renewable

biomass material• Commonly used as an

alternative• Cleaner fuel source• Much cleaner than

petrol/diesel alternatives

Different types of biofuels

• Bioethanol• Biodiesel• Biogas• Biobuthanol

Bioethanol•Actually ethyl alcohl(also referred to as ethanol)•Identical to drinking alcohol by its composition•Mainly two ways of producing alcohol•1. synthesis of hydrocarbons •2. from biomass•Only 2. approach deserves the terminology „bioethanol“

•Chemical Formular : CH3CH2OH

Example of extracting Bioethanol (corn)

Biodiesel•Is an ester (more generally methyl ester)•Produced from vegetable oil•Rudolf Diesel originally developed its engine by means of peanut oil

Example of extracting biodiesel (rapeseeds)

Types of plants used worldwide

Biodiesel• Rapeseeds

• palm fruit

• Soybeans

• Sunflower

Bioethanol• Sugarbeet

• Wood

• Cereals

• Corn

Other fuels

•Wood and cellulose

•Biomass•Starch

Advantages and disadvantages of

biofuels

Advantages

• climatic change needs reduction of the greenhouse effect

• less toxic• conserves ernergy• saving of resources• biodegradable• economize fossil basic materials -> e.g. Oil in place is unlasting

Disadvantages

• losing of nature (e.g. cultivation of oilpalms)• acidification of fields• water pollution by pesticides• eutrophication of waterbodies • higher price of corn, palm oil etc.• reduction of richness in species

• Eutrophication: (-> excessive plant growth and decay; reductions in water quality, fish, and other animal populations)

Thanks for listening…

Lena, Sabrina, Tanja