BIOFUELS SUPPLEMENT
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A bi-weekly summary of world developments on biofuels, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
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December 18, 2009
In This Issue:
News and Trends
- Report Assesses Impact of Global Biofuels on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
- Host Country of UN Climate Change Conference a Frontliner in Renewable Energy
Energy Crops and Feedstocks for Biofuels Production
- Report on Biodiesel Feedstocks and Properties of their Processed Biodiesels
- Spanish Researchers Assess Prickly Pears and Tobacco for Biofuels
Biofuels Processing
- UCLA Scientists Engineer Cyanobacterium for Direct Conversion of CO2 to Biofuels
- Ammonia Fiber Expansion and Dilute Acid Methods for Lignocellulosic Biomass Pretreatment
Biofuels Policy and Economics
- Indonesia Pushes Processing Centers to Boost Biofuels and Oleochemicals from Palm Oil
* NEWS AND TRENDS *
Report Assesses Impact of Global Biofuels on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
http://www.globalrfa.org/pr_120909.php
http://www.globalrfa.org/pdf/120809_final_report_ghg_emissions_biofuels_1.pdf
A report prepared for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance indicates that "world biofuels production in 2009 has reduced global GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 123.5 million tonnes." This represents average reduction of 57% compared to the emissions that would have occurred if an equivalent amount of petroleum fuels had been used. The report also gives a clear indication of the positive role that biofuels play in the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Among the findings of the report are: (1) "world biofuel production has surpassed 100 billion litres of annual production in 2009. After accounting for energy contents, this is displacing 1.15 million barrels of crude oil per day, which creates approximately 215 million tonnes of GHG emissions annually", (2) the global ethanol production of 73.7 billion liters (in 2009) is estimated to reduce GHG emissions by 87.6 million tonnes, (3) global biodiesel production of 16.4 billion litres will reduce GHG emissions by 35.9 million tonnes. Details of the report, as well as the summary press release are available at the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance website (URL's above)..
Host Country of UN Climate Change Conference a Frontliner in Renewable Energy
http://en.cop15.dk/climate+facts/research/17+per+cent+renewable+energy+%e2%80%93+and+on+the+way+up
A press release by the Ministry of Climate and Energy of Denmark (at the website of the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 ) describes its activities in achieving its renewable energy targets. Denmark boasts of a 17% renewable energy achievement in 2007 (that is, 17% of its total energy consumption is supplied by renewable energy). About 30 percent of the Danish electricity supply is based on renewable energy, and wind power reportedly contributes 20 percent. However, a large part of the Danish renewable energy production comes from the burning of biomass, including biodegradable waste. "When combined with the effective exploitation of fuel in Combined Heating and Power (CHP) plants which produce both heat and electricity from the same fuel, biomass contributes around ten percent of the total Danish energy consumption". Denmark is targeting a 30% renewable energy target by 2011, which is more than the 20% renewable energy target of the EU..
* ENERGY CROPS AND FEEDSTOCKS FOR BIOFUELS PRODUCTION *
Report on Biodiesel Feedstocks and Properties of their Processed Biodiesels
http://www.regfuel.com/pdfs/Feedstock%20and%20Biodiesel%20Characteristics%20Report.Renewable%20Energy%20Group.pdf
http://www.thebioenergysite.com/articles/482/feedstock-and-biodiesel-characteristics-report
A report from the Renewable Energy Group lists the characteristics of 36 different biodiesel feedstocks and an analysis of important fuel properties in the corresponding processed biodiesel products. The report described the project as "unique because it encompassed an extensive range of feedstocks, and all feedstocks were pretreated, esterified, and transesterified using the same procedures/conditions, allowing for uniform comparisons of critical fuel properties". At total of 36 feedstocks were evaluated, and 34 of these were processed into biodiesels for fuel analysis. The feedstock sources were from a wide variety of plant, animal, and waste materials. Feedstock characterization included moisture content, free fatty acid content, oxidation stability and insoluble impurities. Fuel analysis included density, flash point, free fatty acid composition, oxidation stability, and cold-flow properties. Some findings from the report (as summarized in the bioenergysite website) are: (1) "coconut and babassu oil(s) are types of feedstocks that are high in saturated fatty acids making them particularly stable towards oxidation", (2) "moisture was a minor component found in all the feedstocks tested, but it can react with the catalyst during transesterification, which can lead to soap formation and emulsions", (3) "Five biodiesel samples from castor, Lesquerella, neem, tung and poultry fat did not pass the ASTM Cold Soak Filtration specification of 360 seconds". The full report can be accessed from the Renewable Energy Group website (URL above)..
Spanish Researchers Assess Prickly Pears and Tobacco for Biofuels
http://www.thebioenergysite.com/articles/478/prickly-pears-and-tobacco-farmed-for-bioethanol
A team of experts from the Cajamar Foundation and Almeria Albaida Recursos Naturales y Medioambiente (Spain) are conducting feasibility studies on the production of bioethanol in semi-arid lands using prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus indica) and the tobacco tree (Nicotiana glauca) as feedstocks. These two plant species are reported to be "perfectly adapted to conditions of extreme water shortage and at the same time these plants have high energy biomass due to the fermentation process of their organic matter". The use of semi-arid lands are appropriate plantation sites for bioenergy crop plantations because these lands are not usually used for food-crop cultivations. Experimental plantations of the crops have been initiated for the eventual bioethanol production. The project covers the "complete cycle of biofuels", from the bioenergy crop production, to biomass-feedstock processing (ethanol production), and eventually the application of the biofuel-ethanol in the motor industry. Small scale, locally operated distillation plants (generally located in port areas which receive supplies from remote regions) are envisioned instead of large distilleries..
* BIOFUELS PROCESSING *
UCLA Scientists Engineer Cyanobacterium for Direct Conversion of CO2 to Biofuels
http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v27/n12/full/nbt1209-1128.html
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-researchers-engineer-bacteria-149726.aspx
http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v27/n12/pdf/nbt.1586.pdf
Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, United States) report the genetic engineering of the cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongates PCC 7942, for the direct conversion of carbon dioxide into biofuels. The engineered organism has the ability to produce isobutanol (a biofuel which is reported to have better fuel properties than ethanol or butanol) and isobutaraldehyde (a precursor for the synthesis of other chemicals), directly from carbon dioxide. The usual route for the conversion of carbon dioxide to biofuels is via the plant biomass. That is, carbon dioxide is taken up by plants to produce biomass, and the biomass is processed into biofuels. The second part (processing of the biomass to biofuels) is often energy-intenstive and requires additional raw materials, all of which contribute to higher cost of production. In the direct route that is mediated by the engineered microorganism, biomass production/processing is eliminated and the carbon dioxide is directly converted into the biofuel. Consequently, the cost of production can be dramatically reduced. The article by John Sheehan at the Nature Biotechnology website describes the strategy used by the UCLA scientists (Shota Atsumi and colleagues) to engineer the organism. The isobutanol pathway was introduced (into the microorganism), while also overexpressing a key enzyme in the photosynthetic pathway. The genetic modification was done in stages. Details of the study by Shota Atsumi and colleagues, as well as the "News and Views" article by John Sheehan can be accessed at the Nature Biotechnology website (both URL's above)..
Ammonia Fiber Expansion and Dilute Acid Methods for Lignocellulosic Biomass Pretreatment
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/pdf/1754-6834-2-30.pdf
(provisional pdf version during time of access)
Pretreatment is usually the first step in the processing of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuel-ethanol (sometimes known as "cellulosic ethanol"). This step is often used to liberate the cellulose/hemicellulose molecules from the tight "lignin wrapping" in the biomass and also to breakdown the liberated cellulose/hemicellulose molecules into simple sugars. The simple sugars are eventually fermented to ethanol by bacteria or yeasts. Although the application of dilute acid or dilute alkali have been the known technologies for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, some recent (and supposedly more efficient) technologies have been reported. Among these recent technologies are "steam explosion" and "ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX)" pretreatments. Both processes involve the application of heat to the biomass under pressure (together with either steam or ammonia), then suddenly releasing the pressure. The sudden release of pressure explosively ruptures the biomass fibers and eventually breaks down the cellulose/hemicellulose molecules into simple sugars (glucose/xylose). Scientists from the Michigan State University (United States) recently compared the performance of AFEX and dilute acid treatment with respect to the amount of sugars liberated and the fermentability of the resulting hydrolyzates to ethanol. They found that AFEX pretreatment resulted in better fermentability but required supplemental addition of enzymes (xylanase and cellulase). Dilute acid treatment on the other hand, would not require enzyme supplementation, but had lesser fermentability. Details of the study are published in the open-access journal, Biotechnology for Biofuels (URL above)..
* BIOFUELS POLICY AND ECONOMICS *
Indonesia Pushes Processing Centers to Boost Biofuels and Oleochemicals from Palm Oil
http://www.biofuels-news.com/industry_news.php?item_id=1548
The Biofuels International website reports that the Indonesian government is seeking investments for the development of biofuels and oleochemicals from palm oil. It has plans to set up regional centers for processing palm oil into biodiesel and other products. Processing areas in Riau, North Sumatra and East Kalimantan have been readied to receive the expected production of 21.5 million tons of palm oil in the next three years. Indonesia reportedly "earned $12.4 billion in palm oil revenue last year, making it the country's largest non-oil and gas export earner"..
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