(U3) 6D: Biofuel from Fermentation

fossil fuel

fuel that formed over tens of millions of years from the remains of dead organic material. Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable

non-renewable

refers to a resource that is replenished at a slower rate than it is being used, meaning that it will eventually run out

biofuel

fuel created from organic material known as biomass

biomass

organic material, including plants, animal by-products, and biological waste material. Can be sourced from many industries, including farming, forestry, and food manufacturing

renewable

refers to a resource that can typically be replenished at the same (or faster) rate than it is being used, meaning it is unlikely to run out

carbon neutral

a state in which there is no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, meaning that there is a balance between the amount of CO2 that is emitted during combustion of a fuel and how much was originally absorbed during the formation process of that fuel

fermentation

the anaerobic chemical breakdown of highenergy organic molecules, typically via the action of enzymes. For many plants, fermentation involves the conversion of glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide

bioethanol

a type of biofuel that is produced via the anaerobic fermentation of plants such as sugarcane or corn

hydrolysis

a chemical reaction in which water is used to break down the chemical bonds of a substance

food vs fuel debate

a central concern of large-scale biofuel manufacturing that questions the validity of using arable farmland to produce fuel, rather than food

first-generation biofuels

biofuels produced from edible food crops such as corn or sugarcane. These compete directly with agricultural land

second-generation biofuels

biofuels produced from non-edible crops such as agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste. These typically compete less with agricultural land