BIO-FUELS

Bio-fuels

Bio-fuels

Introduction

Like all living things, human beings also depend on the environment for energy. Prior to industrial developments man used animals, plants, wind power and water to obtain the energy necessary for their vital functions, to produce heat, electricity and for the development of efficient means of transportation. Then the man went to use sources of energy stored in fossil fuels, coal was first and then oil and natural gas. Currently, fossil fuels and nuclear energy provided each year about 90% of the energy used in the world. But fossil fuel reserves are limited and, to a greater or lesser degree, are pollutants. Since the mid-twentieth century, with the population growth, the spread of industrial production and the massive use of technologies started growing concern over the depletion of oil reserves and environmental degradation. Since then, prompted the development of alternative energy based on renewable resources and less pollution, such as sunlight, tides, water, and bio-energy from bio-fuels. Bio-fuels are energy resources processed by humans from materials recently produced by living organisms, which are known as biomass. These organisms could either be in liquid, solid or gaseous forms, and its ultimate goal is to release the energy contained in its components by a chemical reaction of combustion. Several types of bio-fuels, which are classified according to the input or matter premium and the technology used to produce them. Due to advances in technology, this classification is done for generations (Fangrui, & Hanna, 1998, p. 1-15).

A bio-fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons that is used as fuel in internal combustion engines and which is derived from the bio-mass, organic material originating from a biological process, spontaneous or induced, as usable energy source. Recently, a great interest in Bio-fuels has developed mainly because governments intend to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and achieve greater energy security, also mentioned several advantages of Bio-fuels over other energies, such as lower environmental pollution, sustainable programs and opportunities for rural areas. Bio-fuels can partially replace fossil fuels. Compared to other alternative energies, such as that provided by hydrogen, replacing fossil fuels with Bio-fuels in the road transport sector can be done at a lower cost because they do not require major changes in the technology currently used, nor in the distribution system. Use another type of energy, as obtained through the hydrogen, which is based on a completely different technology, would require major changes in the capital stock. This does not mean that you should rule out new sources of energy but that Bio-fuels will be more growth in the near term. They reduce the total volume of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as they absorb as they grow and emit almost the same amount as conventional fuels when burned, so it is a closed loop process. Bio-fuels are often mixed with other fuels in small proportions, 5 or 10%, providing a useful but limited reduction of greenhouse gases. In Europe and America, has introduced legislation that requires suppliers to mix bio-fuels specific ...