Cited by 385Biofuel production and bioconversionThermochemical Biomass Conversion ProcessesAnaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Emerging technologies for biofuel production: A critical review on recent progress, challenges and perspectives

Open access
Ambaye, Teklit Gebregiorgis, Vaccari, Mentore, Bonilla-Petriciolet, Adrián, Prasad, Shiv, van Hullebusch, Eric D., Rtimi, Sami·2021·Journal of Environmental Management

Abstract

Due to increasing anthropogenic activities, especially industry and transport, the fossil fuel demand and consumption have increased proportionally, causing serious environmental issues. This attracted researchers and scientists to develop new alternative energy sources. Therefore, this review covers the biofuel production potential and challenges related to various feedstocks and advances in process technologies. It has been concluded that the biofuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, bio-oil, syngas, Fischer–Tropsch H2, and methane produced from crop plant residues, micro- and macroalgae and other biomass wastes using thermo-bio-chemical processes are an eco-friendly route for an energy source. Biofuels production and their uses in industries and transportation considerably minimize fossil fuel dependence. Literature analysis showed that biofuels generated from energy crops and microalgae could be the most efficient and attractive process. Recent progress in the field of biofuels using genetic engineering has larger perspectives in commercial-scale production. However, its large-scale production is still challenging; hence, to resolve this problem, it is essential to convert biomass in biofuels by developing novel technology to increase biofuel production to fulfil the current and future energy demand.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112627

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150 of 150 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The fundamental principle governing biofuel production suitability lies in harnessing materials derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, effectively utilizing contemporary carbon fixation processes operating on much shorter timescales than geological fossil fuel formation.

    “The fundamental principle governing biofuel production suitability lies in harnessing materials derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, effectively utilizing contemporary carbon fixation processes operating on much shorter timescales than geological fossil fuel formation [18,215].”
  • Bioethanol has a high research octane number (RON) of over 100 RON, which allows for higher engine compression ratios and can improve thermal efficiency, though its energy density is lower than that of gasoline.

    “Conversely, bioethanol has a high research octane number (RON) of over 100 RON, which allows for higher engine compression ratios and can improve thermal efficiency, though its energy density is lower than that of gasoline [109,215].”
  • Biodiesel typically exhibits a high cetane number (45-65), similar to fossil diesel, ensuring good ignition quality.

    “For instance, biodiesel typically exhibits a high cetane number (45-65), similar to fossil diesel, ensuring good ignition quality [215,216].”

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Authors
Ambaye, T. G., Vaccari, M., Bonilla-Petriciolet, A., Prasad, S., van Hullebusch, E. D., & Rtimi, S.
Affiliations
  • IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (NL)
  • University of Brescia (IT)
  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IN)
  • École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
Corresponding author
  • Ambaye, Teklit Gebregiorgis
  • Rtimi, Sami
Venue
Journal of Environmental Management
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-07
Volume
290
Pages
112627
ISSN
0301-4797 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3163275654
Cited by
384
References
151
Citations by year
2026: 56 · 2025: 116 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 7
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Environmental Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Institutional Research Information System (Università degli Studi di Brescia) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Funders
Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
Keywords
biofuel production, biodiesel, ethanol, bio-oil, syngas, methane, microalgae, crop residues, biomass waste, fossil fuel dependence, renewable energy
MeSH terms
Energy-Generating Resources, Fossil Fuels, Biomass, Biofuels, Microalgae

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