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'''Biofuels''' are fuels produced from organic material rather than fossil fuel sources. This organic material can come from plants such as sugar cain, soybean and corn or from animal products like fat and waste.

'''Biofuel''' (pronounced bye-oh-FYOOL) is fuel made up of biological raw materials, such as [[wood]] or [[ethanol]].  It substitutes for [[diesel fuel]] made from petroleum.

 

 

Biofuels are produced from organic plant material rather than petroleum. This organic material can come from plants such as sugar cane, soybean and corn or from animal products like fat and waste.

One prominent biofuel is biodiesel.  Plant oils and/or animal fats are combined with alcohol and catalyzed to form ethyl or methyl esters. They are sold either neat, as 100% biodiesel, or blended with conventional diesel oil. Other forms of biofuels are biologically produced alcohols and biogases. <ref>http://www.mines.edu/Academic/econbus/ifp/glos-ener.html</ref>  

One prominent biofuel is biodiesel.  Plant oils and/or animal fats are combined with alcohol and catalyzed to form ethyl or methyl esters. They are sold either neat, as 100% biodiesel, or blended with conventional diesel oil. Other forms of biofuels are biologically produced alcohols and biogases. <ref>http://www.mines.edu/Academic/econbus/ifp/glos-ener.html</ref>  

A recent 10-year evaluation of native grassland perennials by the [[University of Minnesota]] concluded that biofuels from this source could displace about 13% of global petroleum without losing agricultural land. Their study indicated that the process was carbon negative in that it removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than was released by the combustion of fossil-fuel during the processes involved in agriculture, transportation and processing. Opponents of this kind of land use point out, however, that in the US the use of corn to produce ethanol encourages monoculture farming, which leaves soils eroded and water polluted. <ref>http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/12/05/olmstead/</ref>

A recent 10-year evaluation of native grassland perennials by the [[University of Minnesota]] concluded that biofuels from this source could displace about 13% of global petroleum without losing agricultural land. Their study indicated that the process was carbon negative in that it removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than was released by the combustion of fossil-fuel during the processes involved in agriculture, transportation and processing. Opponents of this kind of land use point out, however, that in the US the use of corn to produce ethanol encourages monoculture farming, which leaves soils eroded and water polluted. <ref>http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/12/05/olmstead/</ref>

There is a concern that the production of biofuels will have an adverse impact on food prices, which will particularly affect poor people, who spend a larger percentage of their income on food than wealthy people. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5369284.stm</ref>

There is a concern that the production of biofuels will reduce the amount of food, and thus raise food prices. High food prices most affect poor people, who spend a larger percentage of their income on food. <ref>See [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5369284.stm news]</ref>

=== Biofuels from Waste ===

=== Biofuels from Waste ===

Bio-fuels may also be manufactured from products which would otherwise be considered waste.  For example used cooking oil is collected by many people who use it to manufacture bio-diesel for their own use.  There are a variety of processes that may be used (called "recipes" among home bio-diesel makers). In undeveloped locations, animal waste is fed into anaerobic composters to produce methane gas for fuel, usually only on a small, household scale.  Dried dung is also used in undeveloped areas as a replacement for firewood.  While these applications provide benefits both by easing the load on mineral  fuel sources and by re-processing and recycling end products that would otherwise present disposal difficulties, bio-fuels from waste have not been pursued on large scales. <ref>http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html</ref>

Bio-fuels may also be manufactured from products which would otherwise be considered waste.  For example used cooking oil is collected by people who use it to manufacture bio-diesel for their own use.  There are a variety of processes that may be used (called "recipes" among home bio-diesel makers). In undeveloped locations, animal waste is fed into anaerobic composters to produce methane gas for fuel, usually only on a small, household scale.  Dried dung is also used in undeveloped areas as a replacement for firewood.  While these applications provide benefits both by easing the load on mineral  fuel sources and by re-processing and recycling end products that would otherwise present disposal difficulties, bio-fuels from waste have not been pursued on large scales. <ref>http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[category:energy]]

[[category:energy]]

[[Category:Environmentalism]]

[[Category:Environmentalism]]