Biofuels first-generation

First generation biofuels are a direct substitute for fossil fuels in transport and can readily be integrated into fuel supply systems. They may also help prepare the way for further advanced developments, such as hydrogen. Although most biofuels are still more costly than fossil fuels their use is increasing in around... 

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

Ethanol has been indicated as one of the most important first-generation biofuels [151, 152]. Since it can be easily produced in fermentation processes, and is safe to handle, transport and store, it is extensively used in Brazil in direct... 

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. 

Like coal, indigenous first-generation biofuels from Europe are not competitive with the products of large foreign producers. For second-generation technologies, the biomass resources shown in Table 12.5 can be rich sources of either classical biofuels or hydrogen production. 

First generation biofuels (ethanol in particular) face three major criticisms (1) intensification of their use leads to competition with food resources ( efood versus fuel debate), (2) ethanol production from com grain requires significant consumption of fossil resources, in such a way that there are minimum benefits from the carbon emissions perspective, and (3) there is a requirement of land to grow com. 

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