Liquid Fuel from Biomass: an Overview
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Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research Vol. 64, November 2005, pp. 822-831 Liquid fuel from biomass: An overview Padma Vasudevan*, Satyawati Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Centre for Rural Development & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016 With depleting oil resources and negative environmental impacts associated with the use of petro fuels, there is a renewed interest in biomass based fuels, which can still form the base for sustainable development in terms of techno- economics, environmental as well as socio-cultural considerations. As it is a locally available resource, energy equity can also be achieved at global levels and developing countries would stand to gain. However, to exploit the potential of biomass, more work is needed for converting it efficiently into modern energy carriers at competitive prices, supported by relevant policies. Currently, bioethanol and biodiesel have already reached commercial markets, especially as blends with petro fuels. This paper gives an overview on liquid biofuels covering the current and futuristic trends with respect to production and utilization of alcohols, vegetable oil based biodiesel and biocrude, emphasizing on the benefits to rural economy. Keywords: Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biomass, Liquid fuel, Vegetable oil IPC Code: C10L1/02 Introduction Liquid Biofuels Energy content of the biomass annually produced The cultivation, processing and use of liquid globally exceeds today’s world energy consumption by biofuels emit less climate-relevant CO 2 than that of several factors 1. Biomass can be converted into solid, fuels from fossil sources. Biofuels are inherently more liquid or gaseous fuels through thermo-chemical and biodegradable than fossil fuels, and therefore repre- biological routes. Liquid fuels, which are biofuels in sent a lower threat for inland and coastal waters. This, the liquid form, are of special interest as petrol and and the fact that biofuels are mostly consumed where diesel substitutes, in running internal combustion they are produced, means that the risk of danger engines, especially for transportation. The rising cost of resulting from transportation is greatly minimized. petroleum-based liquid fuels due to the depletion of oil Processing of biofuels and raw materials can pave sources, has brought biofuels back into focus. way for multi-functional farming, which would lead to a new source of income and jobs in the area. For Biofuel is a non-polluting, locally available, example, if European Union (EU) had a sustained accessible and reliable fuel obtained from renewable demand for 2 million tons of biofuel, an estimated sources. For propagating biofuels, in addition to 2,000 jobs could be created in plant cultivation itself developing relevant technologies, sustainable produc- and 7,000 jobs would be generated in processing 1. tion and availability of raw materials as well as Given the labour surplus in developing countries with marketing of final products have to be ensured. Raw lower level of mechanization, employment potential is material, technology to be adopted and the policy much higher 5. Use of green energy sources, inte- issues would vary from country to country 2. Hall 3 grating biomass production with agriculture, forestry analyzed the potential of biomass energy in the and wasteland regeneration would directly benefit context of “Industrialized Countries”. Country papers rural economy through employment generation and such as the “Potential of Liquid Biofuel in France” are 4 increase of land productivity, at the same time also available . A detailed report on Biofuel, by the 6 5 reducing the rate of CO 2 emission . Planning Commission, India and reports of various other ministries of Government of India have specifi- Types of Liquid Biofuels and Raw Material Sources cally emphasised the direct and indirect benefits of Liquid biofuels being considered world over fall into using biofuels. the following categories: i) Alcohols; ii) Plant seed oils; and iii) Biocrude and synthetic oils. Globally these ________________ are obtained from the following four broad categories *Author for correspondence of biomass sources: 1) Plantations specially raised for E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected] producing energy or energy and food such as energy VASUDEVAN et al : LIQUID FUEL FROM BIOMASS: AN OVERVIEW 823 Table 1 Current and projected gasoline and diesel tuents of plant, which can be directly extracted from consumption (billion litres) 6 biomass. These are generally a complex mixture of Region Gasoline Diesel lipids, triglycerides, waxes, terpenoids, polysterol and 2000 2020 2000 2020 other modified isoprenoids that can be catalytically Africa 30 65 34 65 upgraded for use as liquid fuels. The possibility of Asea 30 63 60 111 producing liquid fuel from biocrude have been India 8 22 43 100 considered using different kinds of raw materials, Other Asia 186 397 253 469 such as wood 7,8 and laticiferous plant species 9 such as Brazil 24 50 3 61 Euphorbiaceae , Asclepiadaceae , Convolvulaceae and Other South America 30 56 34 56 Moraceae . Some of the methods used are pyrolysis, North and Central America 561 778 242 293 hydropyrolysis and catalytic cracking. Oceania 22 32 16 21 Europe (including Russia) 242 386 333 439 Applications of Liquid Biofuels World 1132 1829 1050 1614 The liquid fuels are used for: a) Pure heat produc- tion; b) Electricity generation and combined heat pro- Table 2 Properties of conventional and alcohol fuels 5 duction (CHP); and c) Vehicular transport. The first Characteristics Diesel Gasoline Ethanol two come under stationary application in diesel Energy content, MJ/kg 42.5 44.0 26.9 2 pumps for irrigation and electricity generation. In this Kin Viscosity, mm /s 4.01 0.6 1.5 case, weight factor, which is always relevant to Boiling point, oC 140-360 37-205 79 Flash point, oC 55-65 -40 13 mobile applications, can be disregarded. In the latter, Auto ignition temperature, oC 230 300 366 as in vehicular fuels for light and heavy vehicles, Flammability limits, % gas in air 0.0-5.6 1.4-7.6 3.3-19.0 weight factor has to be considered. Automobile Motor Octane Number - 80-9- 89 engines may be divided into two groups: (a) Constant Cetane Number 45-55 0-5 5 volume cycle, spark ignition engines Fuel for this kind of engines is the gasoline fraction of crude oil plantations, petro crops, agro-forestry etc.; 2) Agricul- used for light vehicles (car, two wheeler, three tural residues and wastes including manure, straw, bag- wheelers); and (b) Constant pressure cycle engine, asse, and forest wastes; 3) Uncultivated biomass such alternately called compression ignition engine - Fuel as weeds; and 4) Organic urban or industrial wastes. for this kind of engine is diesel, used for heavy Alcohols vehicles, in railway transport, tractors etc. Biodiesel is Bioethanol is produced by fermentation of sugar best suited to replace petro diesel, whose consumption and starchy crops. Cellulosic biomass is also being is likely to go up substantially (Table 1). experimented for the production of bioethanol as this 5 technology will help in using biomass residues from Bioethanol as a Substitute to Gasoline Petroleum reserves are finite. Emissions from agricultural crops and forestry. Bio-methanol can be engines using gasoline have NO , SO , CO and parti- obtained by thermo-chemical degradation of ligno- x 2 2 culate matter (PM), which cause pollution. Gasoline cellulosic material. has a knocking tendency. Tetra ethyl lead (TEL), as Biodiesel from Vegetable Seed Oils an additive, improves the anti-knocking rating of the Seed oils are combustible and have great potential to fuel dramatically. However, due to harmful effects of be used as biofuels. In principle, any vegetable or seed lead, it has been banned. Benzene or cyclic com- oil which essentially comprises triglycerides of long pounds also increase the octane rating. Benzene is, chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, can be however, a known carcinogenic material. Addition of burnt in a diesel engine. It is interesting to note that oxygenated compounds helps in anti knocking. Rudolph Diesel in the preface of his patent of 1912 Ethanol as automotive fuel is advantageous as it wrote “use of vegetable oil for engine fuel may seem contains oxygen (35%) based on biomass which is a insignificant today but such oil may become in the renewable material. It reduces vehicular emissions of course of time, as important as petroleum”. Biodiesel is hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) and vegetable oils modified by transesterification to replace eliminates the use of lead, benzene, butadiene etc. The the glycerol molecules by methyl or ethyl groups. calorific value of ethanol is lower (by 40%) than that Biocrude of gasoline, but increased efficiency in its use partly They are low molecular weight non-polar consti- compensates for this (Table 2). 824 J SCI IND RES VOL. 64, NOVEMBER 2005 Blends (<10%) of ethanol do not present any non-ferrous). Standards for ethanol use as fuel problems. Infact, as compared to gasoline, in this case blending have been prescribed world over, Govt of emission is decreased (HC 18%, CO 18%, NO x 10%). India has initiated 5% ethanol-blended petrol with There is a further decrease in increasing the ethanol effect from 1 st Jan 2003 and 10% ethanol blended content. However, higher blends (> 20%) pose certain petrol is also being envisaged 10 . Ethanol-diesel difficulties: (i) Higher aldehyde emissions; (ii) Corro- (15:85) emulsions can also give