New biofuels can stand on their feet

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The science of today is quite likely to be the everyday technology of tomorrow. Consider biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, which are now blended with petroleum products like petrol and diesel. Given that biofuels use biomass as feedstock, they are a more sustainable and ‘carbon-neutral’ supply source. Biofuels make economic sense as well, with petroleum crude prices touching record highs.

The good news is that second-generation biofuel technologies promise far more environmentally-friendly fuel supplies, and at lower costs too. The best part is that the new technologies in the pipeline would integrate biorenewables into existing refining, fuel distribution and automotive infrastructure.
Overall, the diversification of the feedstock base from edibles like cane or corn to inedible biomass and oils such as Jatropha ought to bring down costs and be environmentally more ‘green’ as well.

But the more encouraging biofuel products are butanol, for blending with petrol; and green diesel, which is produced by adding hydrogen to biofeedstock. Both the products exhibit better calorific and integrative properties when compared to ethanol or biodiesel.

Economic Times