A Source of Biofuels

Algae s potential as a source of biofuel got a big boost from an unlikely source in 2009. ExxonMobil announced plans to invest 300 million or more in San Diego, California-based Synthetic Genomics, a company headed by genome pioneer Craig Venter. 

Bruton T, et al. A review of the potential of marine algae as a source of biofuel in Ireland. Dublin Sustainable Energy Ireland 2009. p. 92. 

Ethanol from Jerusalem artichoke has been recognized as a promising biofuel since at least the 1920s. However, ambitious schemes in the 1930s and 1980s to promote Jerusalem artichoke as a source of fuel ethanol in the U.S. failed, primarily through lack of markets (Amato, 1993). The market for plant-derived ethanol is now growing, however, and improvements in the efficiency of production of ethanol from Jerusalem artichoke continue to be made (e.g., Baev et al. 2003 Filonova et al., 2001 Krikunova et al., 2001 Kobayashi et al., 1995). 

A unique plant on many levels, the distinctive properties of the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) present novel answers to some of today s most pressing problems. Jerusalem artichoke is potentially a major source of inulin, a fructose polymer that provides dietary health benefits as a prebiotic that promotes intestinal health and as a low-calorie carbohydrate to combat obesity and diabetes. Inulin also has myriad industrial applications, including ethanol production — making Jerusalem artichoke a potential source of biofuel. With its ready cultivation and minimal pest and disease problems, Jerusalem artichoke is an underutilized resource that possesses the potential to meet major health and energy challenges. 

Various forms of biofuels represent interesting feedstocks for combustion, gasification and pyrolysis processes in power plant technology as a source of CO2 neutral fuels. Biomass has an estimated potential in Germany of about 660 PJ (1 Petajoule = lO Joule). This is equivalent to about 5 % of the annual primary energy consunqrtion in Germany. [10]... 

Rozmyslowicz B, Maki-Arvela P, Lestari S. Simakova OA, Eranen K, Simakova I, Murzin DY, Salmi T. Catalytic deoxygenation of tall oil fatty acids over a palladium-mesoporous carbon catalyst A new source of biofuels. Top. Catal. 2010 53 1277. 

Gao X, Chen JC, Wu Q, Chen GQ. Polyhydroxyalkanoates as a source of chemicals, polymers and biofuels. Curr Opin Biotech 2011 22 1-7. 

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in biofuels, fuels that are produced from biological materials such as corn or vegetable oil. These sources of biofuels are considered to be renewable because they can be produced in a relatively short time. On the other hand, fossil fuels are formed by the slow decay of marine animal and plant organisms that lived millions of years ago. Fossil fuels, which include pefroleum, natural gas, and coal, are considered to be nonrenewable. 

Despite the fact that enzyme-based biofuel cells progressed a lot in the last 20 years reaching the state where the electrodes operate in vivo being implanted in living organisms, the motivation for their design is not always clear. In most of the published papers the authors claim their use as a source of sustainable power extracted from renewable biological... 

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