Biofuels Engineering Process Technology

"Bioenergy is energy derived from biofuels. A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, from prehistoric biological matter. Overall, bioenergy covers approximately 10% of the total world energy demand. Traditional unprocessed biomass such as fuel wood, charcoal and animal dung accounts for most of this and represents the main source of energy for a large number of people in developing countries who use it mainly for cooking and heating. More advanced and efficient conversion technologies now allow the extraction of biofuels from materials such as wood, crops and waste material. Biofuels can be solid, gaseous or liquid, even though the term is often used in the literature in a narrow sense to refer only to liquid biofuels for transport. Biofuels may be derived from agricultural crops, including conventional food plants or from special energy crops. Biofuels may also be derived from forestry, agricultural or fishery products or municipal wastes, as well as from agro-industry, food industry and food service by-products and wastes. The two main types of biofuels currently in production are bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is used as a replacement for petrol and biodiesel is used as a replacement for diesel. Biofuels represent an immense growth opportunity around the world and have an important role to play in displacing the fossil fuels the world has relied upon in the past with a cleaner, renewable alternative. Biofuels Engineering Process Technology is a comprehensive description and discussion of the concepts, systems, and technology involved in the production of fuels produced from plant and animal feedstocks. The book aims to be an inclusive summary of current biofuels concerns and thus contribute to the understanding of this important topic. Moreover, the biofuel is expected to be continuing in the foreseeable future and the reading of the biofuels features dealt with in this book, are mentioned for any person interested in understanding this varied and evolving subject."