Bio-fuels: Green Energy for the sustainable Environmental Management by using Biotechnological revolutions

RESEARCH BLOG 

Introduction:

Biotechnology is a modern branch of ‘Biological Sciences’ utilized integrated principles of Biology and Engineering, to enhance the industrial production and researches for human  welfare like; production of bio-fuels to save the earth by reducing emission of green house gases. Bio-fuels are alternative fuels made from plants and plant-derived resources used mainly for the transportation means by two types; bio-ethanol and biodiesel. Bio-ethanol, used as substitute for petrol for road transport vehicles, is mainly produced by the sugar fermentation process of cellulose which is mostly derived from maize and sugarcane. Biodiesel on the other hand is mainly produced from oil crops such as rapeseed, palm, and soybean which have received much attention in recent years. The vast majority of energy is currently derived from fossils fuels, limited non-renewable and polluting resources. First generation bio-fuels are produced by fermenting plant-derived sugars to ethanol, while, second generation bio-fuels will also focus on using residual non-food parts of current crops as well as other crops that are not used for food purposes, such as switch grass, cereals that bear little grain and more fibers, wood chips, etc.

Competent micro-organisms can be developed by ‘Genetic Engineering and Cell Culture Principles’ to make efficient ‘Microbial Culture’ of Algal, fungal, Bacterial resources populations for effective enzymatic catalysis to breakdown the hemi-cellulose into sugars, which can be fermented further for the production of bio-fuels, efficiently to meet the current requirement. The advances of Biotechnological tools may unravel the problems of poor production rate and better policies can be formulated to save our environment form the increasing level of hydrocarbons,  greenhouse gases, smokes etc. produced from the burning of conventional energy sources like coal, petrol, diesel and wood charcoal. The level of air and water pollutants also can be reduced by using cellulosic wastes for the production of green energy to run our transportation like; CNG on the minimum rate of pollutants in respect to conventional fuels which produces more pollutants in the atmosphere. To stop ever-increasing petroleum products consumption and emissions in transport sector, alternatives of CNG and bio-fuels can help a lot to reduce air pollutants to save us.    Bio-fuels can replace 30% of current transportation energy, which will reach up to 50% by 2025, with much of the increase in demand from developing countries. Many countries are setting up new initiatives for the production and use of bio-fuels for transportation. India has enhanced their bio-fuels production upto 20% which was only 5% earlier and it will continue further for sustainable environment by increase biomass yield per hectare, reducing greenhouse emissions etc.

Production Strategies:

Biofuels are produced from the Bio-mass basically through enzymatic catalysis of for producing bio-gases, biofuels like as bio-diesel, ethanol, etc.  

  1. The solid biological substances like as wood or Sugar cane waste can be burnt in to power generators for producing heat directly to run turbines and electricity production as well.  
  2. The oilseed crops such as Jatropha curcas found enriched in oil (27 – 40%) and how it will be used (e.g., to fuel cars or power generators). Jatropha oil has been used in India for several decades as biodiesel for the diesel fuel. This tropical crop has great potential  for fulfilment the forthcoming requirements of Disel, especially in India.  

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha_biodiesel_in_India) 

3. Microbial basically Bacterial breakdown, of manure via anaerobic catalysis for producing Methane gas as green energy resources.  





(Source: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arun-Kumar-54/publication/324474492/figure/fig1/AS:614450688176133@1523507868807/Microbes-in-biofuels-and-bioenergy-production.png )

Applications of Biofuels Technology:


Biofuels are primarily used as renewable replacements for fossil fuels in transportation, water warming, electricity generation, lightening and cooking purposes with very lower-carbon alternative and minimizing the waste and pollutants being made from biological organic matters like plants, agricultural waste, and algae etc. Such biofuels are known as clean and afe energy resources for saving our earth and forthcoming generations as well. They also reduce the pollutants, greenhouse gases, and can be used in existing engines through blending some proportion of ethanol like as, E10 gasoline widely known as biodiesel blends.


Transportation Fuel: The biggest application, substituting for gasoline (bioethanol) and diesel (biodiesel) in various vehicles, including heavy-duty transport and aviation. 

Heating: Used as a replacement for heating oil in homes and industrial settings. 


Electricity & Power: Can be burned for thermal energy or used in power plants for captive power generation. 


Bioproducts: Converted into other valuable products like hydrogen or used for cleaning oil spills.


Cooking: Biogas can serve as a cooking fuel, especially in off-grid areas


Cleans Oil Spills and Grease: Biofuel is known to be environmental-friendly. It can also help clean up oil spills and grease. It has been tested to work as a potential cleaning agent for areas where crude oil had contaminated the waters.


 

Research Blog written By 


Dr Shiv Om Pratap 
Associate Professor 
Institute of Biological Sciences
SAGE University, Indore 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Significances of RNA Interference (RNAi) for Fundamental Research

  Blog Category: Academic and Research  Blog Written by  Pawan Kumar* and Dr Shiv Om Pratap  B.Sc. BT, Final Year, Institute of Sciences, SAGE University, Indore  Associate Professor, Institute of Sciences, SAGE University, Indore  Introduction: The unexpected gene expression from the viruses, found due the introgression of foreign nucleic acid in the host followed by the synthesis of disease-causing m-RNA or the origin of unexpected trait. Molecular switch off of such targeted disease-causing mRNA by artificially synthesized m-RNA further for inhibiting unwanted metabolic pathways has attracted the higher researches, significantly.   For example, delaying of fruit ripening, inhibition of viral diseases, cancer treatment, disease resistant crops, restoration of altered metabolic pathways etc. This isn't a science fiction which is a very specific and versatile tools and real cutting-edge Biotechnological innovations for Health Care System an...
Read more

Decoding the DNA Blueprint: Application of Southern Blotting in Plant Breeding

Image
  Karan Prajapat* and Shiv Om Pratap * P.G. Student Institute of Sciences SAGE University, Indore Corresponding author: prajapatkaran199@gmail.com   Introduction: Although plants appear simple externally, each plant cell contains a highly complex DNA blueprint that governs essential traits such as plant height, disease resistance, fruit quality, and overall yield. To explore this genetic information, scientists employ various molecular techniques, among which Southern blotting , developed by Edwin Southern, remains a foundational method. This technique enables the identification of specific DNA sequences and enhances our understanding of gene inheritance in plants. Southern blotting has significantly contributed to modern plant breeding by allowing precise detection of desirable genes. Unlike conventional breeding, which depends on visible traits, this method facilitates early genetic screening, thereby accelerating breeding decisions and improving efficiency. What i...
Read more

Native Poultry Breeds: Unique Jerm Plasm for Better Traits of Economic Importance

Blog Category:  Academics and Research  Blog Written by  Arti Agrahari* and Dr Shiv Om Pratap  * Ph.D. Scholar, Institute of Sciences, SAGE University, Indore  Associate Professor, Institute of Sciences, SAGE University, Indore  Introduction The Indian poultry sector is a vital and rapidly expanding component of the country’s agricultural economy, contributing significantly to food security for the poor villagers and tribals, rural development, and nutritional improvement. Over the last few decades, it has evolved from a backyard activity into a most promising, organized poultry industry with the high levels of introgression of various native and exotic breeds especially in broiler and layer poultry farming. India is placed with third largest egg producer and one of the top five broiler meat producers globally, with annual growth rates of 8–10% along with the 6 to 8% of egg production annually. The poultry sector helps the livelihoods of millions, especia...
Read more