Presentation 1

Chemistry For EnergyBiofuels – diesel and ethanol fuels• Definition : wide range of fuels which are in some

way derived from biomass.• Term of biofuels also covers solid biomass, liquid fuels

and biogasses.• Biofuels nowadays attract public and scientific

attention because some factors such as : increased of oil price, concern over greenhouse effects emissions from fossil

fuels and the need for increase of the energy security.

Ethanol fuelsAlso known as bioethanol Act as the potential alternative to oil-based fuels, which

can be made from the local resources and also less polluting.

An alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials

It can be made up from: sugar cane – Brazil and Columbia using ethanol from

this source to power their cars. maize - in United State, sugar from maize is

being used. – in South Africa, ethanol from maize will

be blended with petrol (proportions 10%-85%) to produce biofuels.

Sugar beet – Europe uses it to produce ethanol.

• Other than these examples, biethanol also made up from trees and grasses. Ethanol is produced from the cellulose which is more difficult than using starch.

• The process is using an advanced technology which developed, called cellulosic biomass.

• but, apart used to produce ethanol, biomass can be used as fuels.

Example: bagasse (Mauritius), the solid waste from sugar production is used to power electricity stations.

maize

Diesel fuels• As the supply of energy for any diesel-

powered engine to work.• Is not ecofriendly.

Biodiesel o Can used in diesel-powered engine as energy

supply when mixed with mineral diesel.o Made up : vegetable oils, animal fats or

recycled greases.o Produced from oils and fats which the

process known as transesterification.o Almost similar to the mineral diesel.

o Pure biodiesel is the lowest emission of diesel fuels.

o For example : oilseed rape is being used in Europe to provide the fuels suitable for diesel-powered engines.

o Usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles.

Oilseed rape

Illustration of plants to be converted to fuels

Bioethanol

Sugarcane,beet, corn,wheat,cassava

SugarpreparationFermentationDistillation

Ethanol

ETBEsynthesisandpurification

Blending withpetrol.Distribution

Isobutylene

Biodiesel

sunflower,soybean,palm,coconut,

CrushingExtractionPurification

Vegetable oils

VOMEsterilizationandpurification

Blending withpetroleumdiesel.Distribution

Methanol

Advantages and disadvantagesof biofuels

Advantages • Environment friendly – lowering the levels of carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere because they keep recycling the same carbon dioxide released.

• Renewable – the sources are from plants which can be find more easily.

• Non-flammable – only ignite to a high temperature compare to other fuel e.g gasoline.

• Provide similar performance with gasoline - diesel-powered engines to perform.

Disadvantages • More newer than other fuels, therefore less popular.• Only certain vehicles can use – not all vehicles have

engines which are using biofuels.• Increases of foods price – food crops are food

supplies and are used for biofuels. Increases demands of foods from people will increase the prices. This will make

the poor people to be more poorer.• More expensive compare to petrol and diesel fuels

made from crude oils.

Do bioethanol and biodiesel are environment friendly?

Formation of natural fuels and unwanted subtances of their burning

Formation of biofuels and substances from burning

An initiative to produce biethanol or biodiesel in Malaysia

Palm oil Can be used to create biodiesel for internal

combustion engines. Ways to used : simple high quality processed palm

oil mixed with petro-diesel or processed through transesterification.

palm oil biomass offers great potential as a cost-effective feedstock for biodiesel due to the increasing global urgency to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

It can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide to more than 80%.

Malaysia do not has problems because it is one of the highest production of palm tree country.

Nuclear power is potentially the greenest of fuels

• Nuclear energy nowadays is said being a green energy.

• Green energy the term used to describe sources of energy that

are considered to be environmentally friendly and non-polluting. E.g : geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro.

perceived to lower carbon emissions and create less pollution.e.g : nuclear.

• Nuclear power is the lowest emission of polluted gas. Energy release is contained within the solid state,

in an enclosed reactor, rather than in an open, gas-phase system as in fossil fuelled power plants.

• Nuclear energy do not has ‘carbon footprints’. It is carbon free. Hence, do not causes climate

changes. • Cheap source of energy

Almost all countries can afford to buy and use this energy as power supply.

• Generate radioactive waste products. The waste products will be stored as solid waste

and stored underground. • High cost of cleaning up and securing nuclear waste.

Wasting lots of money.