Bio Fuels

What are Bio Fuels?

 

Biofuels are produced from living organisms or from metabolic by-products (organic or food waste products).

In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80 percent renewable materials.

The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Ethanol is an alcohol, the same as in beer and wine (although ethanol used as a fuel is modified to make it undrinkable). It is made by fermenting any biomass high in carbohydrates through a process similar to beer brewing. Today, ethanol is made from starches and sugars. Ethanol is mostly used as blending agent with gasoline to increase octane and cut down carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions.

Biodiesel is made by combining alcohol (usually methanol) with vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease. It can be used as an additive (typically 20%) to reduce vehicle emissions or in its pure form as a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines.

It is originally derived from the photosynthesis process and can therefore often be referred to as a solar energy source.

There are many pros to using biofuels as an energy source.


View Slideshow Creating Biodiesel at TTC