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Sustainability of the Biorefinery Industry for Fuel Production

Author

Listed:
  • Armando Caldeira-Pires

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia—UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Sandra Maria Da Luz

    (Faculty of Gama, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Silvia Palma-Rojas

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia—UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Thiago Oliveira Rodrigues

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia—UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Vanessa Chaves Silverio

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia—UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Frederico Vilela

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia—UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, S/N, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Paulo Cesar Barbosa

    (Petrobras' Research Center—Cenpes-Petrobras, Cenpes, Brazil)

  • Ana Maria Alves

    (Petrobras' Research Center—Cenpes-Petrobras, Cenpes, Brazil)

Abstract

Biofuels have been extensively explored and applied in the Brazilian market. In Brazil, ethanol and biodiesel are produced on an industrial scale. Ethanol is commercialized and used in engines in both the hydrated form (96% °GL) and the anhydrous form, mixed with gasoline at a proportion of up to 25% by volume. In turn, biodiesel is blended with diesel in a proportion of 5% by volume. Thus, the goal of the use of biofuels is to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gases and other pollutants emitted into the atmosphere during burning. This article describes some recent developments in the characterization of the environmental and economic impacts of the production of these biofuels from different biomass sources. On this regard, this review presents results of life-cycle assessments (LCAs), life-cycle cost assessments (LCCAs) and Structural Path Analysis (SPA), this last one depicting a sectorial perspective rather than LCA process level data approaches. The results showed that the inclusion of biofuels in transportation activities can lead to the mitigation of the environmental impacts of certain activities, such as emissions of greenhouse gases. However, greater attention must be paid to the improvement of agricultural management to decrease fuel, fertilizer and herbicide consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Armando Caldeira-Pires & Sandra Maria Da Luz & Silvia Palma-Rojas & Thiago Oliveira Rodrigues & Vanessa Chaves Silverio & Frederico Vilela & Paulo Cesar Barbosa & Ana Maria Alves, 2013. "Sustainability of the Biorefinery Industry for Fuel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:1:p:329-350:d:22798
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Liu, Yang & Lyu, Yizheng & Tian, Jinping & Zhao, Jialing & Ye, Ning & Zhang, Yongming & Chen, Lujun, 2021. "Review of waste biorefinery development towards a circular economy: From the perspective of a life cycle assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    3. Silva, Wellington Costa & Castro, Maria Priscila Pessanha & Perez, Victor Haber & Machado, Francisco A. & Mota, Leonardo & Sthel, Marcelo Silva, 2016. "Thermal degradation of ethanolic biodiesel: Physicochemical and thermal properties evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1093-1099.
    4. José María Encinar & Ana Pardal & Nuria Sánchez & Sergio Nogales, 2018. "Biodiesel by Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil Using Ultrasound: A Kinetic Study of Base-Catalysed Reactions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Antonio Molino & Vincenzo Larocca & Simeone Chianese & Dino Musmarra, 2018. "Biofuels Production by Biomass Gasification: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-31, March.
    6. Bhawna Yadav Lamba & Wei-Hsin Chen, 2022. "Experimental Investigation of Biodiesel Blends with High-Speed Diesels—A Comprehensive Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-15, October.

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