13- Biofuels and Alcoholic Beverages

Whats the difference between first generation and second generation biofuels?

First-generation biofuels use food crops such as corn or soy; second-generation biofuels use non-food biomass, such as agricultural residues, perennial grasses, or forestry waste

Describe the process of fermentation in Beer

• Requires simple sugar, or disaccharides, as input

• Requires anaerobic conditions (usually)

• Produces ethanol and carbon dioxide (gas)

• Utilizes only a fraction of the energy available in the sugar

• Utilises Saccharomyces species (yeasts)

What is a biofuel?

• A fuel which gains its energy through the use of already existing carbon in the atmosphere (e.g. ethanol and biodiesel).

• Perceived as carbon neutral because the carbon released from burning is compensated by new photosynthesis.

Why is there interest in biofuels?

• Climate change (CO2 abatement- the removal/reduction of greenhouse gas emissions)

• Energy security (lots of dependance on politically unstable regions which holds the majority of the fossil fuels).

• Diversification of farm activities; rural development

• Biofuels tend to be very land intensive (as crops must be grown in large quantities to produce fuel and compete with food production)

• Conflict/war can drive biofuel prices by raising oil prices and demand for biofuel feedstocks

Give examples of traditional, first and second generation biofuels

• First generation: made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil or animal fats using conventional technology. (usually made from wheat and sunflower seeds)

• Second generation: from tailored feedstocks, greater efficiency, feedstock includes plant products (usually created from tailored feedstocks rather than food)

How is biodiesel and bioethanol made, how is fermentation involved?

• Bioethanol: ethanol fuel made from plant matter, which can be used as a fuel like gasoline but commonly used as a gasoline additive to minimize emissions.

• Biodiesel: producing biofuel through chemical reactions and esterification

If you were breeding a plant for biofuel production, what traits would it have?

• High biomass output

• Hardiness against poor soil and climate conditions, rapid growth and low fertilization

What is a biogas and how is it produced?

• Produced using anaerobic (oxygen free) digestion to reduce odor, produce energy and improve storage and handling of manure, someone with knowledge and operation of the digester is needed

Describe the history of beer production and the process of how its made

1. Malting

2. Mashing

3. Draining liquid

4. Add hops (flavouring)

5. Fermentation —> ‘‘green beer’’

6. Aging (‘‘lagering’’)

7. Pasteurization/filtering

8. Re-addition of CO2

9. Bottling

Describe the process of beer fermentation

• Requires simple sugars, disaccharides

• Requires anaerobic conditions (no O2)

• Produces ethanol and CO2 (gas)

• Utilizes only a fraction of the energy available in the sugar

• Utilizes yeasts when fermenting