First-generation biofuels methyl esters

Bioethanol (mainly from sucrose and starchy crops) and biodiesel production (via transesterihcation of triglycerides) are the main first-generation biofuels that are currently produced on industrial scale. Biodiesel is produced by transesterihcation of triacylglycerols with short-chain alcohols (mainly methanol or ethanol) to produce monoalkyl esters, namely fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). The worldwide production of biodiesel is mainly dependent on the utilization of waste oils, animal fats, and oilseeds such as rapeseed, sunflower, and soybeans. The recent food crisis has shown that research should focus on the development of second-generation biofuels generated from lignocellulosic raw materials and industrial waste streams (eg, food industry wastes). 

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