Biofuel, Ethanol, and Glycerol

It has been argued that by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels, emission of CO may be reduced. Here we consider the basic premises for this view. Later on in this book the utilization of CO in homogeneous catalytic processes, either as a solvent or as a reactant, will be discussed (see Sections 4.7.3 and 4.7.4). 

Carbon containing feed stocks and fossil fuels  

Organic chemicals and organic chemicals derived polymers 

The two main crops for making ethanol by fermentation are sugarcane and corn. The ratio of renewable energy output to fossil energy input is more favorable for sugarcane than for com. However, there are a few other value-added products that are obtained from corn-based processes. 

It may be recalled that diesel derived from fossil fuel is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with about 13-17 carbon atoms. Plant-based oils are basically a mixture of triglycerides, i.e., esters of glycerol with fatty acids. The number of carbon atoms in these acids is comparable to 

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