Biofuels usage

The Energy PoHcy Act of 1992 (H.R. 776) has Hberalized the rules concerning biofuels and provides tax incentives for increased usage. Many states also have gasohol fuel tax exemptions in place, and some have enacted legislation that requites use of oxygenated fuels under certain conditions. Most of these laws impact favorably on biofuels usage. 

Second, sensors are often intended for a single use, or for usage over periods of one week or less, and enzymes are capable of excellent performance over these time scales, provided that they are maintained in a nfild environment at moderate temperature and with minimal physical stress. Stabilization of enzymes on conducting surfaces over longer periods of time presents a considerable challenge, since enzymes may be subject to denaturation or inactivation. In addition, the need to feed reactants to the biofuel cell means that convection and therefore viscous shear are often present in working fuel cells. Application of shear to a soft material such as a protein-based film can lead to accelerated degradation due to shear stress [Binyamin and Heller, 1999]. However, enzymes on surfaces have been demonstrated to be stable for several months (see below). 

One fuel alternative involves the more widespread use of biomass produced fuels. More efficient biomass conversion techniques would help make biofuels more cost-competitive. Land availability and crop selection are major issues in biomass fuel usage. Biomass alternatives can be expected to grow to a significantly larger scale for providing fuel. 

This entry is organized into three major parts. The first identifies the biomass resources in the form of conventional forestry, agricultural crops and residue, and oil-bearing plants, among others. The second describes the conversion processes of bioresources into biofuels, and it is followed by the end product usage of biofuels in producing electricity in power plants. 

The worldwide consumption of soybean oil was 37.9 million tons in 2008, accounting for 28% of global vegetable oil usage [1]. It finds its way into several food appHcations such as cooking oils, salad oils, or margarines. Technical uses include additives for coatings. In the biofuels industries of the United States and Brazil, soybean oil is also the main feedstock for biodiesel production (almost 20% of soybean oil went into biodiesel in the United States in 2008 [7]). 

Tillman, D., R. Stahl, D. McLellan, D. Bradshaw, L. Reardon, M. Rollins, and E. Hughes. 1996. Fuel Blending and Switching for NO Control Using Biofuels with Coal in Cyclone Boilers. Proc. Biomass Usage for Utility and Industrial Power an Engineering Foundation Conference. April 28-May 3. Snowbird, UT. 

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