Lecture 17: Biofuels

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to biofuels as discussed in Lecture 17.

What are biofuels?

Energy derived from biomass, which can be solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel.

What is biomass?

Material from living or recently living organisms or their by-products.

List some examples of solid biomass fuels.

Wood logs, pellets, charcoal, agricultural waste, timber waste, animal waste, aquatic plants, urban waste (paper, cardboard).

What is the traditional use of biomass?

Burning wood for cooking and space heating.

What is biopower?

Generating electricity by burning biomass waste such as household, forestry, and agricultural waste.

What are liquid biofuels mentioned in the lecture?

Ethanol and biodiesel.

Why is biomass considered carbon-neutral?

It releases no net carbon into the atmosphere if trees and grasses are replanted.

What is FlexFuel?

A fuel that contains 85% ethanol or higher.

What are some feedstocks for ethanol production?

Corn and sugarcane.

What is the ecological benefit of increasing biofuel production?

It supports rural communities and reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports.

How does biodiesel differ from ethanol in terms of energy content?

Biodiesel is more energy-rich than ethanol and has more energy per liter.

What is an important environmental advantage of using biofuels?

It reduces air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide.

What is the main feedstock for biodiesel production in Canada?

Soybean oil and canola oil.

What is the energy density of ethanol compared to regular gasoline?

Ethanol has only ⅔ of the energy of regular gasoline.

What is a key benefit of biofuels in terms of production speed?

Biofuels can be made in weeks or months, whereas fossil fuels take millions of years.

Describe the life cycle assessment (LCA) in relation to biofuels.

LCA can be applied to evaluate the environmental impacts of all stages of biofuel production.