The Impact of Biofuel in Today’s Society

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While fuel for transport makes up almost a third of the current world energy consumption. At the moment, biofuels make up only a small portion of the world enegy use but its goal is to reach and expected 9%in the EU (European-Comission, 2016). There are two most common type of biofuels today are ethanol and biodiesel. Biodiesel – whether created throuhgh virgin-or-waste-biomass – falls into the category of liquid biofuel production (Petrou, 2009). To put simply, biodiesel is made by combining alcohol (normally methanol) with vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease (RP Siegel, 2012). Unlike its other variations, biodiesel includes the transesterification stage where “glycerine is removed from vegetable oil or grease to produce methyl ester (RP Siegel, 2012). ”This is followed by the separation: “The process of separating the biodiesel and glycerol using centrifuges or settling tanks starts here. Following the removal of glycerine from the biodiesel, it is transferred to a washing station where the biodiesel is passed through a centrifuge or filter press to remove dissolved contaminants like soap, MAG and glycerol (GreenerPro, 2017)” and evaporation stages. Meaning that the catalyst of the reaction can be either an acid or base (msot often 30%-liquid-sodium-or-potassium-methylate) and the reaction temperature must be greater than 60 °C. The basic chemical reaction for this production is the following (Petrou, 2009): [pic 1]

It can be used in a mixture (typically 20%) or in its pure form as an alterantive for diesel engines. For further detailed information refer to the diagram below:[pic 2]

(GreenerPro, 2017)

On the surface biofuels are mainly attractive for their environmental properties, however, after a deacde of implemeting this fuel source, the world has started to see several envornemntal problems occur. Some even stating that in some cases, these impacts are worse than those corresponding to fossil fuels. In relaiotion to GHG gas emssions, another negative impact concerning the supply chain of solid biofuels production causes heavy metal (Pb, Hg) and dioxin simssions (Petrou, 2009). In relation, the agiruclture sector suffers from the excessive use of pesticide and fertilizers as “energy plants” are cultivated in an intensive way. To bring relvance to Indoensia, as one of the largest producers of palm oil, palm biodiedel-is among one of the most popular forms of biodiesel in Asia. Although research shows multiple benefits like producing far less carbon residues and lower sulfur content. They have been heavily criticized-for promiting forest efficiency as the government states that around 14 million hecatres of forests was destoreyd this past decade-(Greenpeace, 2013). The expansion of-the-palm-oil-industry-is-propelled-by-rising-biofuels-demand - 20% of the EU biodiesel mix is now made up of palm oil mainly from Southeast Asia causing simmilar affects to deforestation. Overall, the EC estiamtes that,” Biodiesel from oil palm may have been responsible for up to 2.8% and 6.5% of direct deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia (European Comission, 2013).”

As there is much debate amongst sceientits it is agreed that although biofuels are not 100% safe but they are much safer than fossil fuels. Additionally as a renewable source and being derived from crops, biofuels are theorretically unlimited. As biological molecules that are biodegradable, bacteria and organism that live naturally around them can use biofuels as a means of energy source and easily break them down into harmless by-products if there is a waste in biofuel. When produced “properly”, biofuels signficantly help the problem of spills,waste contamination and sulfur or atmospheric contamination. One of the major problems to arise from burning fossil fuels, especially coal, is acid rain that comes from the high sulphur content of these fuels-(Greenpeace, 2013). However, as-biofuels-contian-a-considerable-amount-of-nitrogen, biofuels can be carefully produced to ensure that contamination is as low as possible giving them an edge over-fossil-fuels-because-it-is-easier-to-avoid-contamination-in-the production-phase.

Economically, one of the world’s most serious problems arising from the use of biofuel is the increase of food prices and a partially satisfied global-demand-of food. The-increased-use-of-cultivation-land for biomass crop production and subsidies cause farmers to prefer producing specific crops (not necesarrily suited for human consumption). An infamous example includes the rising prices of corn grown to make ethanol in the US. Refer-to-the-figure-below-(Petrou, 2009):

[pic 3]

As food and energy economies usually remain separate, the construction of many fuel ethanol distilleries lead to them slowly merging. This “new relationship puts hungry people in direct competition with empty gas tanks”(Tenenbaum, 2008). If the food value of grain is less than its fuel value, oil prices increase and move grain upwards-into energy-economy.

From the preceeding discussion, it is clear that biofuels have advantages and disadvantages on human and natural systems. Now-that-food-crops-can-be-converted into fuels, a new factor must be considered— the link between the price of food and petroleum. In addition, out of the 40 countries that have made commitments to meet at least ten percent of their transportation fuel needs with biofuel by 2020, most of these include developing nations like Indonesia, India, Sub-Saharan Africa and others (European Comission, 2014). While there are numerous benefits, biofuel only when produced “correctly” can be beneficial in the areas talked about above. As-most-developing-countries-have faced-many incorrect biofuel productions allegations (Institute of Medicine,-2014); it seems more beneficial for them to postpone the use of biofuel as Dr David King states,“All we are doing by supporting these is subsidising higher food prices, while doing nothing to tackle climate change" (Chakrabortty,2008).

Works Cited

"Biodiesel Process." GreenerPro - Biodiesel Process. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2017. .

Chakrabortty, Aditya. "Secret Report: Biofuel Caused Food Crisis." The Guardian. Guardian