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Advisory / BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology and Future Energy: BIO-FUEL

Bio-fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel are already widely supplementing petrofuels. Meanwhile, soybean, rapeseed and vegetable or animal fats - which may be more economical and need less processing as compared to today's technology - are now increasingly being seen as the bio-fuels of the 21st century.

The immediate focus in environmental biotechnology is on bioremediation. Biomass conversion for feedstock production for biofuels, synthetics and plastics should be a long- term focus. Bioremediation involves the use of living organisms or their products to degrade wastes into less toxic or non-toxic products and to concentrate and immobilize toxic elements, such as heavy metals, to minimize industrial wastes and rehabilitate areas fouled by pollutants or otherwise damaged through ecosystem mismanagement. Phytoremediation is also being investigated. For example, poplar trees have been engineered to clean up mercury contamination. Another growth area in the next century will be the development of alternatives to non-renewable resources especially fossil fuels. Biotechnology will provide answers through modified enzymes and microorgamisms that can turn abundant biomass into feedstocks for the production of synthetics, plastics, polymers and biofuel.

From the earliest days of the automotive industry alternative fuels have always competed with petroleum for powering vehicles. Nicholas Cugnot made the first self-powered road vehicle in 1769 with a steam engine, and the first petrol automobile didn't appear until over 100 years later from Karl Benz. Through the late 19th and early 20th century steam and electric power remained strong contenders. The invention of the self-starter for petrol engines by Cadillac eventually proved the undoing of the early steam cars, which required warming up. Electric cars continued to be produced for a while longer, but the expanding road network gradually made their short range of 10-20km between charges too inconvenient for many uses.

Biomass is the oldest known source of renewable fuel - humans have been using it since we discovered fire - and it has high energy content. Biomass resources include agricultural and forestry wastes, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes, known as energy crops. Biomass contains energy that has been stored through photosynthesis. That energy content remains when plants are processed into other materials such as paper and animal wastes, and even into forms of energy we use every day, such as electricity and transportation fuel, known as Bio-fuels.

The term bio-fuels can refer to fuels for electricity and fuels for transportation. Bio-fuels include alcohol, ether, ester, and other chemicals made from cellulosic biomass such as herbaceous and woody plants, agricultural and forestry residues, and a large portion of municipal solid and industrial waste. Bio-fuels for transportation, includes Bio-ethanol, Bio-diesel, Bio-methanol, and Pyrolysis oils. The two most common types of Bio-fuels, that are being developed and used are Bio-ethanol and Bio-diesel.

Bio-Ethanol
History: The earliest forms of alcohol were simple fermented beverages. In the Middle East the art of making beer and wine flourished, as early as 6,000 to 4,000 BC. Around 800 BC, the Chinese began to distil alcohol directly from fermented rice liquor. By the year 500 BC, distillation technology had advanced considerably. Relatively pure forms of alcohol were used in cosmetics, perfumes, and medicine. In the late 18th century important discoveries regarding the technology and chemistry of distillation allowed to produce ethanol cheaply from a variety of organic materials. In the 1880s, Henry Ford built his first automobile. He called it the quadri-cycle and it was fuelled on ethanol. Ford's Model T also ran on ethanol. The Model T had a carburettor adjustment that allowed the vehicle to run on ethanol fuel produced by the farmers. Ford's vision was to "build a vehicle, affordable to the working family, powered by fuel that would boost the rural farm economy."

Ethanol is the most widely used Bio-fuel today. More than 1.5 billion gallons are added to gasoline in the US each year to improve vehicle performance and reduce air pollution. It is made by using a process similar to brewing beer where starch crops are converted into sugars. The sugars are fermented into ethanol, and then the ethanol is distilled into its final form. Pakistani sugar mills can participate into producing surplus electricity and Bio-fuel for vehicles.

Cost of ethanol fuel: The availability of ethanol can expand our fuel supplies, increasing competition in the marketplace and reducing overall gasoline prices paid by the driving public. Ethanol provides high quality octane for exceptional performance. Current cost of ethanol per litre is approximately Rs 45 to 60.

The Pakistani government like US should encourage gasoline marketers and blenders to use ethanol by providing a tax reduction. In US gasoline marketers and blenders that use ethanol are eligible for up to a 5.3 cent per gallon reduction from the federal excise tax on gasoline of 18.3 cents per gallon. The incentive, in turn, has enabled smaller, independent gasoline marketers to compete with the major international petroleum companies and provide consumers with an exceptionally cost-competitive fuel. Consumers benefit further because the federal ethanol program provides a net saving of $3.6 billion a year to the US Treasury.

Ethanol
Ethanol is a high quality, high-octane fuel capable of reducing air pollution and improving automobile performance. Because ethanol boosts octane, it helps your car run more smoothly. It also keeps your fuel system clean for optimal performance and acts as gas-line antifreeze. According to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, pre-ignition and dieseling (run-on) are noticeably reduced and acceleration can be improved with ethanol. In US over the past twenty years, auto manufacturers have made design changes to make vehicles ethanol-compatible and take advantage of ethanol's benefits.

Blended Fuels: Ethanol-blended fuels have been used in small engines and other non-automotive gasoline engines since they first came into the marketplace in the developed countries. Today all mainstream manufacturers of power equipment, motorcycles, snowmobiles and outboard motors permit the use of ethanol blends in their products. In USA the Portable Power Equipment Manufacturers Association, representing manufacturers of gasoline-powered hand-held equipment such as chain saws and weed trimmers, conducted extensive research on reformulated gasoline and found no operating problems associated with the fuel.

Ethanol as a aviation fuel: As a replacement for leaded aviation fuel, ethanol provides the high-octane fuel necessary for aircraft while reducing pollution at the same time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently certified an ethanol-based, lead-free fuel for piston-engine aircraft In United States. The fuel, which contains about 85 per cent ethanol, is known as AGE85. In flight tests and engine tear down inspections, AGE85 has been demonstrated to meet or exceed FAA performance, materials compatibility and engine component wear specifications, and has been approved for use in several different models of Cessna aircraft equipped with Continental engines.

Macroeconomic impacts by utilization of ethanol fuel: In US the robust and growing domestic ethanol industry stimulates economic development, particularly in rural communities where ethanol production is often based. Millions of dollars of capital investment has been made in 62-ethanol production facilities located in 20 states. The ethanol industry adds more than $2 billion to the US economy each year.

Growth in the ethanol industry offers enormous potential for overall economic development and additional employment in these smaller communities. In Pakistan it is estimated that 400 million litres ethanol production facility can create 5000 - 6000 local jobs.

Ethanol production stimulates economic growth in local communities throughout the country. Like In US according to a Midwestern Governors' Conference report, "ethanol production in the US boosts total employment by 195,200 jobs, improves the U.S. trade balance by $2 billion, adds over $450 million to state tax receipts, and increases net farm income by $4.5 billion. Importantly, the federal ethanol program benefits US taxpayers, resulting in a net savings to the US Treasury of $3.6 billion each year."

Ethanol from grains: The processing of grains for ethanol production can provide an important value-added market for Pakistani farmers, helping to raise the value of commodities they produce. Pakistani agriculture faces some of the toughest times in recent history. Similarly in US a record corn crop combined with declining export markets has resulted in the lowest corn prices in 20 years. As the third largest use of corn behind only feed and exports, ethanol represents a market for over 600 million bushels of corn, adding $4.5 billion in farm revenue annually. USDA has determined that ethanol production adds 25 - 30¢ to every bushel of corn.

Therefore, production of ethanol can spark new capital investment and economic development in rural communities across Pakistan as well.

Bio-diesel
Unlike ethanol, which is an alcohol, Bio-diesel is an ester (similar to vinegar) that can be made from several types of oils such as soybean, rapeseed, and vegetable or animal fats. Through a process called transesterification, organically derived oils are combined with alcohol (ethanol or methanol) and chemically altered to form fatty esters such as ethyl or methyl ester. The biomass-derived ethyl or methyl esters can be blended with conventional diesel fuel or used as a neat fuel (100 per cent bio-diesel).

History: Bio-diesel was introduced in South Africa before World War II to power heavy-duty vehicles. Recent environmental and domestic economic concerns have prompted resurgence in the use of Bio-diesel throughout the world. In 1991, the European Community (EC) proposed a 90 per cent tax deduction for the use of Bio-fuels, including Bio-diesel. Bio-diesel plants are now being built by several companies in Europe; each of these plants will produce up to 5.7 million litres of fuel per year.

In the US, bio-diesel is also being commercialised. Procter & Gamble is currently the only US manufacturer of bio-diesel (primarily made from soybean oils); several US demonstration programs, however, use bio-diesel to fuel more than 200 vehicles, including buses, trucks, construction/maintenance equipment, and motor boats.

US production of bio-diesel is about 12 million lifters per year and growing. US producers use recycled cooking oils and soy oil. Bio-diesel is used in some federal, state, and transit fleets and other equipment. Neat and blended bio-diesel is used in marinas, tourist boats, and launches. There is a growing interest in using bio-diesel where workers are exposed to diesel exhaust, in aircraft to control local pollution near airports, and in locomotives that face restricted use unless emissions can be reduced.

In future, Biotechnology can participate to develop soybean, rapeseed and vegetable or animal fats, which may be more economical and need less process as compare to today's technology to make bio- fuels.

Cost of bio-diesel: The cost of bio-diesel is dependent on the choice of feedstock. According to a recent market analysis, if soybeans are used the fuel will cost approximately Rs 41.00 /litre on a small-market scale. However, large-scale commercial use of bio-diesel produced using today's technology like biotechnology, and diesel from micro algae could reduce bio-diesel cost to Rs15.00 to 20.00 /litre.

Utilization of Bio-Diesel: In general, no engine, ignition system, or fuel injector modifications are needed for standard diesel engines to operate on bio-diesel. The solvent characteristics of the fuel may require substitutions of certain hose and fuel line materials that contact the fuel. However. it may also be helpful to have the engine fine tuned to obtain optimal performance.

When comparing bio-diesel performance to that of conventional diesel fuels, horsepower is not noticeably different. Recent tests done by Mercedes-Benz indicate that highway fuel mileage is essentially the same. In addition, engine performance tests at the Austrian Institute of Agricultural Engineering show lubricant consumption and engine wear with bio-diesel operation to be comparable to operation with conventional diesel fuel.

Safety feature: Bio-diesel offers enhanced safety characteristics when compared to other diesel alternatives, including petroleum, methanol, and natural gas. Bio-diesel has a high flash point; it does not produce explosive air/fuel vapours; it has very low mammalian toxicity if ingested; and it is biodegradable. The emissions are also expected to be less toxic, however, no definitive data on this point is currently available.

Macroeconomic impacts by using bio-diesel: An important factor that is not usually considered when calculating the costs and benefits of industrial feedstock materials is the macroeconomic effect associated with domestically produced, renewable energy sources. Economic benefits of a bio-diesel industry would include:

" Value added to the feedstock (oilseeds, fats, or yellow grease),

" An increased number of jobs,

" An increased tax base from plant operations and income taxes, and

" Investments in plant and equipment.

Importance for US
There are a number of important reasons for our country to be developing and using bio-fuels. Perhaps, the most important is that no one knows how long our world's petroleum resources will last. But we do know that petroleum is finite, and when the supply has been depleted we must have alternatives ready to keep our country moving. Because bio-fuels are made from renewable sources, developing the technology to produce them now will ensure an ample supply of transportation fuel in the future, and provide insurance against the uncertainty surrounding the petroleum resource timeline.

The Persian Gulf region holds nearly two-thirds of the entire World's known oil reserves and the Pakistan imports more than 70 percent of its petroleum. The major burden on Pakistani economy is high price of petroleum; by using bio-fuel energy eventually it will save billions of foreign exchange.

There are a number of benefits to producing and using bio-fuels aside from the transportation fuel supply issue. First, bio-fuels are produced domestically, and the feedstocks for them are grown domestically. This helps reduce our country's trade deficit and creates jobs in our country, both of which are good for our economy. Our agricultural community especially stands to benefit, since bio-fuels are made from crops and agricultural residues, providing options for new valuable crops and new uses for existing crops and residues.

Producing our fuel domestically also improves our energy security; we become less dependent on the strategic, political, and economic whim of other countries. Our country's heavy reliance on imported oil is becoming a serious energy security issue, and it is clear that our vulnerability will get worse with time. Key among the reasons for rising oil imports is the limited domestic resource base of crude oil.

And producing and using bio-fuels is much better for the environment than burning fossil fuels. Bio-fuels produce fewer harmful emissions during production and combustion and they contribute virtually no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which is very important for reducing the build-up of greenhouse gases.

Bio-fuels energy crops can be a profitable alternative for farmers, which will complement, not compete with, existing crops and thus provide an additional source of income for the agricultural industry.

In addition to rural jobs, expanded bio-fuel energy deployment will create high skill, high value job opportunities for utility and power plant owners and operations.

Conclusion
Liquid Bio-fuels are currently the least competitive product from Biomass in the market place, given the low oil prices. It is, however, important to ensure their continuing and growing, presence in the fuel market since the short/medium term oil-prices are unpredictable, and in the longer term alternatives to the finite oil reserves are needed. The energy demand in the transport sector is expected to grow strongly in the future and so will the emission problems associated with it, and the external dependence on oil, if no alternatives is available. Bio-fuels have an overall positive energy balance, although this varies from crop to crop, and also depends on the crop replaced. Whether there is such an increase will depend crucially on closing the gap between production costs of bio-fuels and competing products.

It is noteworthy to know that, as many as 2 billion people still have no access to electricity. However most of them live in countries located in tropical and subtropical areas, with greater availability of renewable resources than developed countries. Therefore, the development and commercialisation of bio-fuels technology depends on and, conversely, influences several issues of national importance. The benefits of bio-fuels and its influences on the development are inextricably linked to three vital factors - our economy, environment, and energy.

By Ijaz Ahmad Rao
luckystarpk@yahoo.com