What are biofuels?

The bioeconomy is about more than biofuels, but the promise and the potential of biofuels for the economy and the environment have captured the attention of politicians, the public and the media like no other bioproduct.

Plant sugars have been fermented into ethanol for hundreds of years. Currently, most ethanol is made from corn grain or sugar cane. Several GLBRC scientists are experts on making ethanol from cellulose, plant stalks, grass, corn cobs and other woody plant parts.

Oils from plants such as canola, sunflowers, corn and soybeans can be converted into biodiesel. Both ethanol and biodiesel are currently available to consumers, but it can be difficult to find a station that has biofuel pumps. Both biodiesel and ethanol are available as blends, which means a percentage of ethanol or biodiesel is blended with petroleum fuel to make the final product. For example, E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline; B20 is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.

The cost of refining ethanol and biodiesel is considered one of the biggest hurdles to widespread adoption of the biofuels. Compared with petroleum, biomass raw materials are inexpensive. Many of these raw materials are considered waste — stems and stalks left over after plants are harvested. But the processing costs for turning the biomass into ethanol and biodiesel traditionally have been much higher than the costs for turning crude oil into gasoline and diesel fuel. At $20 per barrel, oil is cheaper to refine than biofuels. But when oil costs $140 per barrel, biofuels are very competitive.

Biofuels not only can reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, but also produce lower amounts of greenhouse gases when they’re used in vehicles.

What are biochemicals?

Enzymes from plants and microorganisms, as well as bacteria and other microbes, can be used in industrial chemical reactions to make a number of everyday products: glues, cleaners, solvents and plastics. Using biochemicals instead of chemicals derived from petroleum can reduce pollution, increase efficiency, and limit the use of hazardous materials in the manufacture and use of chemicals.

According to research done by the industry, the global market for industrial enzymes is valued at more than $1 billion annually and is growing. Enzymes help bring about and speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes are in laundry detergent to improve stain removal. They convert cellulose to sugar, bleach paper and curdle milk for cheese and yogurt.

What are some examples of bioproducts?

Bioproducts are any products — fuels, chemicals, raw materials — made from renewable resources. Instead of depending on the planet’s limited supply of nonrenewable resources (petroleum and coal), plant material and municipal and livestock waste — biomass — are turned into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic components of chemical processes.

Learn more in our Bioenergy Glossary