Fossil fuels as energy source

Chemists are studying the structure and kinetics of the photosynthetic reaction center both to understand the fundamentals of this important natural process and to design new materials that mimic nature s ability to harvest light energy at such high efficiency. Artificial photosynthesis may lead to carbon-based materials that will replace the silicon collectors in solar cells in the 21st century. This will help reduce human dependence on stored fossil fuels as energy sources in the future. 

All these chapters describe the smart use of reactor design and process integration to increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions when using fossil fuels as energy source. Of course, intensified systems can also be used for bio-based energy sources. Chapter 8 reports the possibility to convert biomass into substitute natural gas. The chapter describes how both packed beds and fluidized bed reactors can effectively be used to improve the methanation reaction so that the products of biomass gasification can be converted into a more sustainable methane stream. 

Ultimately, human being may shift to non-fossil-fuel-based energy sources such as nuclear, solar, wind, and others in the near term, however, our reliance on oil imports can be alleviated by modifying the refining process with cheap H2 produced from coal, biomass, waste, or petroleum coke via the well-known gasification and shift processes. These provide a cheaper near-term solution to cut U.S. oil imports while simultaneously reducing GHG emissions.41... 

Although the operation of a pulping process requires energy, modern mills do not require fossil fuel as the source, because all the energy comes from combustion of the compounds (mainly lignin) dissolved during the pulping... 

Use of fossil fuels as a source for energy as well as raw materials... 

Combustion reactions are among our most important chemical reactions. Our technological, energy-intensive society relies heavily on the combustion of fossil fuels as a source of energy. In the combustion of hydrocarbons, such as the substances found in natural gas or petroleum, the fuel combines with oxygen gas (O ) from the atmosphere to make carbon dioxide (CO ) and water (H O). 

Use thermochemical data to assess fuels as energy sources, including fossil fuels and other alternatives. 

Fuels as Sources of Energy—One of the chief applications of thermochemistry is in the study of the combustion of fuels as energy sources. Currently, the principal fuels are the fossil fuels, but potential alternative fuels are also mentioned in this chapter and discussed in more depth later in the text. One of the problems with the use of fossil fuels is the potential for global warming. 

The outlined perspectives of both nuclear and fossil fuel-derived energies are reason enough to promote alternative energy sources. As mentioned earlier, one of the chief renewable sources is water, and the generation of hydroelectric power is extensive on a global scale... 

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