Biofuels: From Plants to Porsches

Joint Lesson byJordan Parker and Marina ZiehnSpring 2011

Resources

What is a resource? definition: any physical or virtual entity of limited

availability that needs to be consumed to obtain benefit from it

biotic: plants, animals and their products abiotic: non-living matter, minerals not from organic

matter

What is the difference between a limited resource and a renewable resource? one takes a LONG time to form (geological periods),

other can be replenished or reproduced easily

Pop Quiz

water

coal

wind

petroleum

calcium from fish

hydroelectricity

gold

iron

copper

silver

forests

animals

sun/solar energy

wood

oil

Developing/using renewable resources

Why might we want to use renewable resources more widely? continuously available easily available made in large quantities

How can we get/create renewable resources?

From resource to Fuel

How are resources used?

Renewable options

Types of Biofuels

Bioalcohols: alcohols synthesized chemically or biologically, have high octane rating (which means they can ignite well) but lower energy density

Types of Biofuels

Biogases: gases produced by biological breakdown of organic matter (without O2)

Types of Biofuels

Biodiesels: clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources

How available are these types of biofuels?How efficient is each type of biofuel?