Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are changing our Earth’s climate very rapidly and causing global warming phenomenon. There is a scientific, social, and political consensus that 20% of global GHG emissions are due to the... more
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are changing our Earth’s climate very rapidly and causing global warming phenomenon. There is a scientific, social, and political consensus that 20% of global GHG emissions are due to the transport sector that is also blamed for increasing oil demand worldwide. The growth in the transportation sector is estimated to increase by 1.3% per year until 2030. The increase in GHG emissions and high demand for fuel in the transport sector can be reduced significantly by replacing fossil fuels with liquid biofuels, which are derived from plant materials and appear to be carbon-neutral, renewable, and capable of cultivation under harsh environments. The plant materials used in producing liquid biofuels are also a potential source of value-added products such as feed, materials and chemicals, in addition to biofuels. This chapter reviews the current trends in liquid biofuel systems on a global platform and criteria for sustainability pertaining to liquid biofuels. The three types of sustainability criteria for liquid biofuels, including economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability are discussed in detail.
RESUMEN El presente trabajo propone un modelo para la gestión del conocimiento en el tema de bioetanol. La propuesta consiste en una plataforma denominada BIOred, que está construida usando el modelo propuesto por Nonaka & Takeuchi, en la... more
RESUMEN El presente trabajo propone un modelo para la gestión del conocimiento en el tema de bioetanol. La propuesta consiste en una plataforma denominada BIOred, que está construida usando el modelo propuesto por Nonaka & Takeuchi, en la cual se presenta la circulación del conocimiento a partir de las fases de combinación, so-gran dispersión de conocimiento relacionado con alternativas energéticas y uso de productos agrícolas para la obtención de bioetanol, lo que impide la eficiente-do la técnica de análisis estructural, que permitió la identificación y valoración de los actores claves que constituirían la red y de las factores críticos que soportan la plataforma virtual, finalmente se logró que cada componente de la red se articula-ra alrededor de una finalidad encaminada a la gestión del conocimiento. El modelo permitirá a los actores involucrados en la producción de bioetanol establecer rela-ciones de colaboración y cooperación con los investigadores tanto de los centros de investigación como de las universidades de la región.
Access to affordable and renewable sources of energy is crucial to reducing poverty and enhancing rural development in countries of the global South. Straight vegetable oil was recently identified as a possible alternative to conventional... more
Access to affordable and renewable sources of energy is crucial to reducing poverty and enhancing rural development in countries of the global South. Straight vegetable oil was recently identified as a possible alternative to conventional biomass for rural energy supply. In this context, the Jatropha curcas Linn. species has been extensively investigated with regard to its potential as a biofuel feedstock. In contrast, only little is known about Jatropha mahafalensis Jum. & H. Perrier, which is an indigenous and endemic representative of the Jatropha genus in Madagascar. This paper explores the potential and suitability of J. mahafalensis as a biofuel feedstock. Seed samples were collected in the area of Soalara in south-western Madagascar in February and September 2011. Two agro-ecological zones (coastal area and calcareous plateau) and two plant age groups (below and above 10 years) were considered. These four sample groups were analyzed with regard to oil properties, element contents, and fatty acid profiles. Measured values differed greatly between the two harvests, probably owing to different climatic or storage conditions. No direct relation between age of trees or location and oil quality could be established. The analyses indicate that J. mahafalensis oil can be used in oil lamps, cooking stoves and stationary combustion engines for electrification or for biodiesel production. However, modifications in storage and extraction methods, as well as further processing steps are necessary to enable its utilization as a straight vegetable oil and feedstock for biodiesel production. If these technical requirements can be met, and if it turns out that J. mahafalensis oil is economically competitive in comparison with firewood, charcoal, paraffin and petroleum, it can be considered as a promising feedstock for rural energy supply.
