Biofuels

Preface

List of Contributors

Chapter 1

Biofuels in Perspective

W. Soetaert and E. Vandamme

Fossil versus renewable energy resources

Economic impact

Comparison of bio-energy sources

Conclusion

References

Chapter 2

Sustainable Production of Cellulosic Feedstock for Biorefineries in the U.S.A.

James R. Hettenhaus, Brent Erickson and Matthew T. Carr

Introduction

Availability of Cellulosic Feedstocks

Feedstock Options

Sustainable Removal

Erosion Control

Tilling Practice

Transitioning to No-till

Realizing Removal

Removal Economics

Climate Change Mitigation

Pretreatment

Farmer in Value Chain

The Start—Preprocessing Pentose Sugars and Lignin

Continuing downstream—Fungible Fermentation Sugars

Looking Upstream

Logistics

Conclusions

Policy Recommendations

References

Chapter 3

Bio-ethanol Development in the U.S.A.

Brent Erickson and Matthew T. Carr

Introduction

Federal Policy

The U.S. Ethanol Market

Corn Ethanol Technology

Cellulosic Ethanol

The Future

References

Chapter 4

Bio-ethanol development(s) in Brazil

Arnaldo Walter

Introduction

The Brazilian experience with ethanol

Policy and regulatory instruments applied to deploy large-scale ethanol production

Cost reductions

Technological development

Is the ethanol production in Brazil sustainable?

Is Brazilian experience replicable?

Conclusions

References

Chapter 5

Process Technologies for Biodiesel Production

Introduction

Biodiesel Production Worldwide

Feedstocks for Biodiesel Production

Chemical Principles of Biodiesel Production [5]

Catalysts for transesterification and esterification reactions

Alkaline catalysis

Acid catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis

Enzymes as Catalysts

Transesterification in supercritical alcohols

Alternative approaches

Overview of Process Technologies

Single Feedstock Technologies

Multi Feedstock Technologies

Small scale production units

Alternative process technologies

Chapter 6

Bio-based Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Production Technologies

Robin Zwart & René van Ree

Chapter 7

Plant Oil Biofuel: Rationale, Production and Application

Dr. Barnim Jeschke

Introduction

Plant Oil Biofuels – the underlying Idea

History of the Plant Oil Fuel Market

Positioning of Plant Oils within the Biofuel Markets

Perspectives of the Plant Oil Fuel Market

The Market

Market Drivers

System Requirements

Plant Oil Conversion Technology

One Tank System

Two Tank System

The User Perspective

Engine Suitability for Plant Oil Conversion

Choice of Conversion Technology and Approach

Operations and Maintenance

References

Chapter 8

Enzymatic production of biodiesel

Hideki Fukuda

Introduction

Enzymatic transesterification by lipase

Use of extracellular lipases

Transesterification with various types of alcohol

Effective methanolysis using extracellular lipase

Phenomenon of acyl migration in presence of lipase

Use of intracellular lipase as whole-cell biocatalyst

Immobilization by BSP-technology

Methanolysis in a packed-bed reactor using cells immobilized within BSPs

Effect of fatty acid cell membrane composition

Lipase localization in cells immobilized within BSPs

Use of cell-surface displaying cells as whole-cell biocatalyst

Novel cell-surface display system

Flocculation profile of yeast cells displaying FSProROL and FLProROL fusion proteins

Methanolysis reaction using yeast cells displaying ProROL

Conclusions and future prospects

References

Chapter 9

Production of Biodiesel from waste lipids

R. Verhé, C.V. Stevens

Introduction

Alternative resources for biodiesel production

Conversion of waste frying and cooking oils into biodiesel 

 Processing of crude and waste lipids into biodiesel

Conclusion

References

Chapter 10

Biomass Digestion to Methane in Agriculture: A Successful Pathway for the Energy Production and Waste Treatment Worldwide

P. Weiland, W. Verstraete& A. Van Haandel

Introduction

Biogas production potential

Germany

Brazil

Biogas production configurations

Configurations for wastewater digestion

Different process configurations for wet digestion fermenters

Different process configurations for dry digestion fermenters

Biogas utilization

Outlook

Conclusions

References

Chapter 11

Biological hydrogen production by anaerobic microorganisms

W.M. Kengen, Heleen P. Goorissen, Marcel Verhaart, Ed W.J. van Niel, Pieternel A.M. Claassen and Alfons J.M. Stams

Introduction

Hydrogen formation in natural ecosystems

Thermodynamics of hydrogen formation

Enzymology

Enterobacteria

The genus Clostridium

The genus Caldicellulosiruptor

The genus Thermoanaerobacter

The genus Thermotoga

The genus Pyrococcus/Thermococcus

Approaches for improving hydrogen production

Concluding remarks

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 12

Improving Sustainability of the Corn-Ethanol Industry

Paul W. Gallagher and Hosein Shapouri

Introduction

Energy Balance

Crop Production and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

CO₂ Adjustment in a Changing Ethanol Industry

Conclusions

References