The impact of biofuel plantation on biodiversity: a review

Because plants convert solar energy into chemical energy stored in organisms, biomass production as an energy source can help to reduce the world＇s reliance on fossil energy and mitigate global warming. Biofuel production is a fast-growing industry that represents a new type of large-scale human disturbance on ecosystems. Thus, the benefits of biofuel production bring environmental risks that include its potential impact on biodiversity, which is still an open question. In this review, we start first with a brief overview of the evolution of biofuel concept; second, we review the state of biofuel production across the continents, with a major emphasis on the main species used and their major feedstock. For which, we found significant differences for land use and environmental cultural management of biofuel plantation between tropical and temperate regions. Third, we summarize the impacts of biofuel plantation on biodiversity at multiple scales, based on the case studied with respect to the corresponding issues. At the genetic level, introgression and contamination by aggressive genotypes are a primary risk. At the species level, habitat pollution, degradation, and disturbance caused by intensive management of biofuel plantation significantly raise the risk of habitat fragmentation, native extinction, and bio-invasion. At the ecosystem level, the large-scale homogeneous landscape of biofuel plantation results in simplified community and food web that severely damage ecosystem services, including ecosystem diversity. Finally, we compare the current and potential benefits and risks of biofuel plantations for the practical application of a biofuel industry of China. We emphasize the land use constraint from food security and biodiversity conservation, and the need for scientific research and systematic monitoring as a critical support for the sustainable development of biofuel production in China.     

Supercritical fluids technology for clean biofuel production

Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels that are predominantly produced from biomass for transport sector applications. As biofuels are renewable, sustainable, carbon neutral and environmentally benign, they have been proposed as promising alternative fuels for gasoline and diesel engines. This paper reviews state-of-the-art application of the supercritical fluid (SCF) technique in biofuels production that includes biodiesel from vegetable oils via the transesterification process, bio-hydrogen from the gasification and bio-oil from the liquefaction of biomass, with biodiesel production as the main focus. The global biofuel situation and biofuel economics are also reviewed. The SCF has been shown to be a promising technique for future large-scale biofuel production, especially for biodiesel production from waster oil and fat. Compared with conventional biofuel production methods, the SCF technology possesses a number of advantages that includes fast kinetics, high fuel production rate, ease of continuous operation and elimination of the necessity of catalysts. The harsh operation environment, i.e. the high temperature and high pressure, and its request on the materials and associated cost are the main concerns for its wide application.     

生物电池--一种值得重视的环保能源

普通电池能对环境造成严重污染,文章介绍一种新兴的环保型的电池--生物电池.结合生物能量代谢紧密相关的氧化还原反应,给出了生物电池的定义,并作了初步分类,阐述了生物电池的基本原理、主要特点及存在问题,提出了改进效率的几种可能途径.加强对生物电池的研究和开发,对解决环境和能源问题,具有重要意义.     

Algal biomass as a global source of transport fuels: Overview and development perspectives

As a result of the global fuel crisis of the early 1970 s,coupled with concerns for the environment,the use of biofuel has been on the increase in many regions throughout the world.At present,a total of approximately 30 billion(30×109) liters of biofuel are utilized worldwide annually,although most countries rely hugely on the first generation biofuel.The limitations of the first and second generation biofuel gave rise to current interest in algae as a promising alternative to these conventional biofuel sources.Algal biomass could provide a lion’s share of the global transport fuel requirements in future.The present review highlights some important developments in,and potentials of algaculture as a major biomass resource of the future.However,the major constraint to commercial-scale algae farming for energy production is the cost factor,which must be addressed adequately before its potentials can be harnessed.     

Supercritical fluids technology for clean biofuel production

Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels that are predominantly produced from biomass for transport sector applications.As biofuels are renewable,sustainable,carbon neutral and environmentally benign,they have been proposed as promising alternative fuels for gasoline and diesel engines.This paper reviews state-of-the-art application of the supercritical fluid(SCF)technique in biofuels production that includes biodiesel from vegetable oils via the transesterification process,bio-hydrogen from the gasification and bio-oil from the lique-faction of biomass,with biodiesel production as the main focus. The global biofuel situation and biofuel economics are also reviewed.The SCF has been shown to be a promising technique for future large-scale biofuel production,especially for biodiesel production from waster oil and fat.Compared with conventional biofuel production methods,the SCF technology possesses a number of advantages that includes fast inetics,high fuel production rate,ease of continuous operation and elimination of the necessity of catalysts.The harsh operation environment,i.e. the high temperature and high pressure,and its request on the materials and associated cost are the main concerns for its wide application.