An overview of second generation biofuel technologies
Abstract
The recently identified limitations of 1st-generation biofuels produced from food crops (with perhaps the exception of sugarcane ethanol) have caused greater emphasis to be placed on 2nd-generation biofuels produced from ligno-cellulosic feedstocks. Although significant progress continues to be made to overcome the technical and economic challenges, 2nd-generation biofuels production will continue to face major constraints to full commercial deployment. The logistics of providing a competitive, all-year-round, supply of biomass feedstock to a commercial-scale plant is challenging, as is improving the performance of the conversion process to reduce costs. The biochemical route, being less mature, probably has a greater cost reduction potential than the thermo-chemical route, but here a wider range of synthetic fuels can be produced to better suit heavy truck, aviation and marine applications. Continued investment in research and demonstration by both public and private sectors, coupled with appropriate policy support mechanisms, are essential if full commercialisation is to be achieved within the next decade. After that, the biofuel industry will grow only at a steady rate and encompass both 1st- and 2nd-generation technologies that meet agreed environmental, sustainability and economic policy goals.
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Microorganisms and different enzymes are employed to convert cellulose and hemicellulose to sugars, followed by fermentation for ethanol production.
“Microorganisms and different enzymes are employed to convert various components of feedstocks (i.e., cellulose and hemicellulose) to sugars, followed by fermentation for ethanol production [27].”
From Recent Developments in Lignocellulosic Biofuels, a Renewable Source of Bioenergy (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Sims, R. E. H., Mabee, W., Saddler, J. N., & Taylor, M.
- Affiliations
- Massey University (NZ)
- Queen's University (CA)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Agence internationale de l'énergie (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Sims, Ralph E.H.
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-03
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1570-1580
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2150706111
- Cited by
- 1,497
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 80 · 2021: 106 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 106 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 129 · 2016: 119 · 2015: 121 · 2014: 149 · 2013: 126 · 2012: 82
- FWCI
- 4.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
- Keywords
- second-generation biofuels, lignocellulosic biomass, biofuel production costs, biochemical conversion, thermochemical conversion, synthetic fuels, biofuel policy, biofuel sustainability
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Animal Feed, Biotechnology, Costs and Cost Analysis, Energy-Generating Resources, Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Gases, Hydrolysis, Lignin, Greenhouse Effect, Biomass, Biofuels
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