Potential of Advanced Biofuels for Energy Security
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POTENTIAL OF ADVANCED BIOFUELS FOR ENERGY SECURITY THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy In Agricultural Economics and Business Management BY RAHIL AKHTAR USMANI UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. AKRAM A. KHAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2018 CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION I, Rahil Akhtar Usmani, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management certify that the work embodied in this Ph.D. thesis is my own bonafide work carried out by me under the supervision of Prof. Akram A. Khan at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. The matter embodied in this Ph.D. thesis has not been submitted for the award of any other degree. I declare that I have faithfully acknowledged, given credit to and referred to the research workers wherever their works have been cited in the text and the body of the thesis. I further certify that I have not willfully lifted up some other’s work, para, text, data, result, etc. reported in the journals, books, magazines, reports, dissertations, thesis, etc., or available at web-sites and included them in this Ph.D. thesis and cited as my own work. Date: (Signature of the Candidate) Rahil Akhtar Usmani (Name of the Candidate) Certificate from the Supervisor This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the best of our knowledge. Signature of the Supervisor Name & Designation: Akram A. Khan, Professor Department: Agricultural Economics and Business Management (Signature of the Chairman of the Department with seal) COURSE/ COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION/ PRE-SUBMISSION SEMINAR COMPLETION CERTIFICATE This is to certify that Mr. RAHIL AKHTAR USMANI, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management has satisfactorily completed the course work/comprehensive examination and pre-submission seminar requirement which is part of his Ph.D. programme. Date: ……………. (Signature of the Chairman of the Department) COPYRIGHT TRANSFER CERTIFICATE Title of the Thesis: POTENTIAL OF ADVANCED BIOFUELS FOR ENERGY SECURITY Candidate’s Name: RAHIL AKHTAR USMANI COPYRIGHT TRANSFER The undersigned hereby assigns to the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, copyright that may exist in and for the above thesis submitted for the award of Ph.D. degree. (Signature of the Candidate) Note: However, the author may reproduce or authorize others to reproduce material extracted verbatim from the thesis or derivative of the thesis for author’s personal use provided that the source and the university’s copyright notice are indicated. Acknowledgements I would like to pay my humble reverence, first to Almighty Allah, without whose countless blessings the work would not have seen the light of day. Fortune took the lead that I had Prof. Akram A. Khan as my supervisor. No word can express my gratitude for his encouragement and for allowing me to grow as a researcher. His advice on my research work has been invaluable. Throughout my thesis writing period, he provided encouragement, sound advice, good company and lots of good ideas. One simply could not wish for a better or friendlier supervisor. He has been invaluable on both an academic and personal level, for which I am extremely grateful. I extend special thanks to Prof. Shamim Ahmad, Prof. Saghir Ahmad Ansari, Prof. Raees Ahmad and Mr. Shamsuzzaman, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Aligarh Muslim University for their help and necessary support for carrying out this work. I am also grateful to all the members of non-teaching staff specially Mr. Tahseen Iqbal Siddiqui, Mr. Matloob-ur-rehman Kirmani, Mr. Md. Asim and Mr. Shahzad Shujai, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Aligarh Muslim University for their cooperation and time to time help during the course of study. My vocabulary fails to acknowledge the affection, care, inspiration and benediction I received from my parents which lit the flame of learning in me and enabled me to reach the footsteps of my long cherished goal. Amma, you have always believed in your son and given me your love. Papa, you showed me the example of a hardworking man. There are no words that can express my gratitude for your love, affection, patience and sacrifices that you have made on my behalf. Whatever I am today is because of their prayer, love and blessings. I am overwhelmed to take Asma Rahil Usmani as my wife whose continuous support and encouragement provide me the strength to accomplish this task. No one in world have the patience and love that she has. i I gratefully acknowledge my brothers Mr. Kamran Akhtar Usmani and Mr. Yasir Jamal Usmani and my Sisters Ms. Sana Akhtar Usmani, Ms. Hijab Akhtar Usmani and Ms. Asra Akhtar Usmani whose presence encouraged me to finish the work successfully. I would also like to convey my deep feeling of respect to my grandfathers (Late Dr. Alim Usmani and Mr. Wasi Ahmad Siddiqui) whose words enlightened my thoughts, developed my vision and provided me the wisdom necessary for the completion of this work. I wish to thank my entire extended family, my grandmothers (Mrs. Saeeda and Mrs. Wasikunnisan) my uncles (Dr. Kausar Usmani, Mr. Waquar Alam Siddiqui, Mr. Absar Alam Siddiqui, and Dr. Ahmad), my aunts (Mrs. Tanveer Usmani, Mrs. Yasmeen Javed and Mrs. Zarrin Fatima) and my wonderful cousins Hammad, Khalid, Aquib, Naved, Ahad, Hina, Sayma, Yusra, Adiba and Aqsa. I would also like to convey my special thanks with lots of love to my uncle Mr. Hasan Mehdi Rizvi who always supported me throughout the work and encouraged me with his love and affection. I get lucky to have some marvelous personalities as my friends and I would fail in my duty if I do not appreciate the encouraging attitude of Abdul Saboor Mohammad, Dr. Ejaz-ul-Haque, Fariq Khan, Fazil Ahmad Kidwai, Mohd Azhar Siddiqui, Md. Abbas Zaidi, Sharif Masood, Syed Faiz Ahmad Madni, Tanveer Sheikh and Zeeshan Ahsan. Words cannot express how grateful I am to them for all of the moral and mental support that they have extended towards me. I extend sincere thanks to my respected seniors, Dr. Abuzar Nomani, Dr. Faizan Khan Sherwani, Mr. Md. Jamshed, Dr. Shweta Gupta and Mr. Zia Khan. Without their valuable suggestions and friendly support, the accomplishment of this task seemed to be impossible. In my daily work, I have been blessed with a friendly and cheerful group of friends and I would fail in my duty if I do not appreciate the encouraging attitude of my friends Asim Hasan, Md. Anis Anwar, Azad Wani, Rather Iqbal and Zainab Hussain for providing a loving and supporting environment for me. ii I owe my deepest gratitude to Sameer Shakeel Ansari and I have to create some new words if I want to thank him. He was always there for helping me in my PhD work. He helped me in learning various research tools and supported me throughout my doctoral work. Looking back ten years since I came to Aligarh Muslim University, what an amazing journey it has been for me! Encompassing both good-times, that I will remember forever because it was plenty, and not-so-good times, yet I did not sway from my conscience, this transmogrified hike would not have been accomplished without tremendous help and support. I gratefully received from Aligarh Muslim University. The Fellowship received from the UGC is greatly acknowledged. Last but by no means the least, I thank my friends Faiz Warsi, Owais and Md. Naqi. RAHIL AKHTAR USMANI iii POTENTIAL OF ADVANCED BIOFUELS FOR ENERGY SECURITY ABSTRACT OF THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy In Agricultural Economics and Business Management BY RAHIL AKHTAR USMANI UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. AKRAM A. KHAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2018 ABSTRACT The term ‘biofuel’ refers to the liquid and/or gaseous fuel, which is produced from biomass. Biofuel is considered as a renewable and sustainable fuel because of its lower greenhouse gasses and particulate emissions after combustion. Ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel are in the category of liquid biofuels whereas hydrogen, methane and synthetic petroleum hydrocarbons are in the category of gaseous biofuels. Globally, ethanol and biodiesel are the dominant transport biofuels. Ethanol is used for gasoline blending which supply 95% of the fuel used in the road transport whereas biodiesel is used for blending in diesel. Currently, conventional biofuel production processes is dominant for the production of biofuels. The major raw materials used for the production of ethanol and biodiesel are sugar, starch and vegetable oil. The continuous and large scale use of food crops for biofuel production instigate a food versus fuel debate. Furthermore, the environmental sustainability and economic efficiency of the conventional biofuels is also in the question. Advanced biofuels are the biofuels which are produced from the lignocellulosic biomass. The lignocellulosic feedstock include vegetative grasses (energy crops), residues from crops and wood processing facilities, and municipal solid wastes. The final product i.e., biofuels have same physical and chemical properties either produced from the food biomass or from the lignocellulosic biomass. Advanced biofuels are considered as more sustainable and environment friendly than conventional biofuels. This is because they are produced from the non- food materials and offer greater benefits in terms of food security. The analysis of FER (fossil energy replacement ratio) of the lignocellulosic biofuels demonstrate their better sustainability. Conventional biofuels have relatively simple and mature technology and well developed logistical system and supply chain. But advantages like large abundancy and physical availability of the lignocellulosic biomass make it more favorable feedstock for the production of the biofuels. 1 The conversion of the lignocellulosic biomass is relatively more complex and have many high-cost processing steps.