First-generation biodiesels

BTL diesel is a renewable fuel of excellent quality, compared to both fossil-derived diesel and first-generation biodiesel produced via the transesterification of vegetable oils. BTL synthetic fuel consists mainly of linear paraffinic hydrocarbons with almost zero aromatics and sulfur compounds. The physical properties of BTL diesel presented in Table 18.6 (Rantanen et al., 2005) demonstrate its very high cetane number that can reach up to 75, much higher than conventional diesel. The big advantage of BTL diesel is that it is directly usable today in the transportation sector and furthermore it may be suitable for future fuel cell vehicles via on-board reforming since it is free of sulfur. 

First generation biofuels Sugar, starch, vegetable oils, or animal fats Bioalcohols, vegetable oil. Biodiesel, biosyngas, biogas... 

The first-generation biofuels can be identified as ethanol, which was produced via the alcoholic fermentation of cereals, and hio-oil or biodiesel, which was extracted from seeds such as sunflower, rapeseed, or palm. The use of cereals and sunflowers was rejected by public opinion and some scientific environments, because their use for energy production conflicted with their use as foodstuffs. In fact, the diversion of cereals to the production of ethanol for transport has led to a rise in the price of flour and derived goods, especially in Mexico. The same situation has arisen for some bio-oils, such that the source was shifted to palm-oil which, essentially, is produced in Asian countries such as Malaysia. 

First generation bioethanol and biodiesel production, which mainly makes use of cereal grains and vegetable oils, represents a growing source of high quantities of protein as a valuable by-product. Sanders et al. (2007) estimated that a 10% substitution of fossil transportation fuels worldwide by first generation biofuels would result in an annual production of 100 million tonnes of protein - about four times the proteins requirement of the world s human population. A direct result of this would be the saturation of traditional protein markets. New opportunities would therefore emerge for chemical production from proteins. 

First-generation biorefineries are based on the direct utilization of classical forms of biomasses and forestry residues. There are two types of first-generation biorefinery processes. One is the conversion processes of sugar-rich biomass by fermentation for bioeth ol production, and the other is the conversion processes of oil-rich biomass by transesterification for biodiesel production (Tolan, 2006). 

Biodiesel is a mixture of long-chain fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) that is produced from biomaterials through transesterification of triacylglycerol (TAG, ie, plant oil and animal fats) with methanol. In chemistry, the biodiesel synthesis could be expressed by the reaction as shown in Fig. 1.2. In principle, any triacylglycerol could be used for biodiesel production. In fact, the first generation of biodiesel was mainly produced from edible plant oil, such as soybean, rapeseed, and palm oil. The low price of plant oil before 2008 and high diesel price in the European countries allowed... 

Recent life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, to assess the environmental impact and use of resources during the life cycle of biodiesel, reveal that there are less GHG emissions in second-generation biodiesel when compared with the first generation (Chatteijee et al., 2015). Therefore, research on edible oil biodiesel production is mostly focused on cost competitiveness and sustainability of the process through ... 

The production of biofuel from edible oils (first generation of biodiesel) has increased many environmental issues such as competition over land usage for crops agricultural and biofuel production. In conjunction with this, food shortage, raised food prices, and destruction of biodiversity as deforestation occurred (Lin et al., 2011) are major causes for concern. The production of biodiesel from second-generation feedstocks should be encouraged to make these more viable/profitable and will be discussed in depth in Section 6.2.3.1. 

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