Alternative Fuels: Biomass Briquettes & Biofuels

1. Alternative Fuels:Biomass Briquettes & Biofuels By Keiry Rodriguez

2. How Biomass Briquettes Are Made • Biomass briquettes are made out of sawdust, groundnut shell, coir pith, coffee husk, tobacco stems, and charcoal powder. • The items listed above are put on a machine that first crushes them into a suitable size to make a briquette. • Next the machine has a built in dryer to decrease the moisture content of the raw materials. • Then the materials will be pressed into the form of cylinders. • There is no need to put binders on the briquettes to hold them together because it has natural lignin keeps the biomass briquette from falling apart.

3. What Biomass Briquettes Are Used For • Biomass briquettes are used as the alternative of coal in heating and steam generators.

4. Benefits And Drawbacks Of Biomass Briquettes Benefits Drawbacks It is expensive to store and harvest the raw materials. In the making the briquettes carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide is released. • Does not release pollution because it does not have sulfur in it. • Since it has low moisture content there is burning efficiency. • Cheaper than other fuels. • Very low ash content (from 2-5%).

5. Plans for Biomass Briquettes in the U.S. • There are two companies collaborating in the production of biomass briquettes in the United States. • Companies in the Midwest are interested in using the briquettes to replace their coal supplies.

6. The Making Of Biofuels • Biofuelscome from crops that are then are put through the process of hydrogenation (heating an oil and passing hydrogen bubbles through it).

7. What Biofuels Are Used For And It's Place In The U.S • Biofuels can serve as an effective replacement for fossil fuels. • Shell is working with Codexis to develop a faster and more successful way to create biodiesel. • Shell even has ethanol pumps set up in its various gasoline stops.

8. Benefits And Drawbacks Of Biofuels Benefits Drawbacks It’s rare to find biodiesel in the U.S. The chemicals used to make it are poisonous. Biodiesel can end up being more expensive than petro diesel. Certain crops could end up being more expensive because they are being used as biofuel. • Biofuels and more importantly biodiesel will not catch on fire. • Biodiesel is biodegradable. • Biofuels will support local economies. • Biofuels will decrease the demand of petroleum.

9. Cite Sources • http://www.realtechbriquettingmachines.com/biomass_briquette.aspx • http://www.biomass-briquette.com/Briquetting-Presses.html • http://www.biomass-briquette.com/Biomass-Briquetting-Machine.html • http://www.cfmglobal.org/images/cleantechnology.pdf

10. www.buzzle.com/articles/biomass-energy-pros-and-cons.html • http://newenergyalternative.com/biodiesel/benefits-and-drawbacks-of-biodiesel • http://www.spartansaving.com/advantages_disadvantages_biofuel.html