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Biofuels from Engineered Tobacco Plants?

A biofuel is tricky to define because the usual fossil fuel we use, is in a way biofuel too. But we can safely say that most of the biofuels don’t add up their quota of carbon dioxide to the environment. The biofuels are therefore considered to be “CO2 neutral.” Researchers from the Biotechnology lenovo thinkpad x61 battery Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a new method to increase the quantity of oil in tobacco leaves. So that oil in tobacco leaves can be utilized as biofuels in future. Their paper was published in Plant Biotechnology Journal which is an online journal.

Vyacheslav Andrianov is a Ph.D. and assistant professor of Cancer Biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. According to him tobacco can produce biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural crops. But there is a hitch. When we try to extract oil lenovo ideapad y430 battery, most of it is available in tobacco seeds. Statistics say that tobacco seeds are composed of about 40 percent oil per dry weight. Another snag is tobacco plants don’t produce seeds in copious amounts. It is about 600 kg of seeds per acre. Dr. Andrianov and his colleagues aim to find ways so that the tobacco leaves produce more oil.

A usual tobacco plant leave has 1.7 percent to 4 percent of oil per dry weight. The researchers modified two genes of the plant. They are the diacyglycerol acytransferase (DGAT) gene or the LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2) gene. The plants were engineered to over express one of the two genes. The alteration of DGAT gene resulted in about 5.8 percent of oil per dry weight in the leaves. It is around twice the amount of oil produced by and large. When the researcher went for the LEC2 gene modification it yielded around 6.8 percent of oil per dry weight.

According to Dr. Andrianov, “Tobacco is very attractive as a biofuel because the idea is to use plants that aren’t used in food production. We have found ways to genetically engineer the plants so that their leaves express more oil. In some instances, the modified plants produced 20-fold more oil in the leaves.”

Dr. Andrianov opines, “Based on these data, tobacco represents an attractive and promising ‘energy plant’ platform, and could also serve as a model for toshiba satellite a215 battery the utilization of other high-biomass plants for biofuel production.”

Outside our homes, the major air pollutants are carbon dioxide and nitrogen monoxide which comes mostly from transportation vehicles and industrial plants. Burning fossil fuel and deforestation can result to increase in production of carbon monoxide and aside from imposing harmful effects to us humans, carbon monoxide also contributes to global warming which means the temperature of Earth increases and may result to adverse effects to this world we live in.

Air pollution can be minimized if all of us will find and follow ways on how to minimize this problem and make the air we breathe clean and fresh. We can start minimizing air pollution right within our homes. Below are several tips we should start to practice and follow to reduce air pollution and keep our body away from diseases caused by unclean air.

1.) Avoid using car daily
Instead of using your car, you can travel by public transit to avoid more harmful emissions that come from vehicles. If you are working, suggest car pool to your co-workers or ride with a co-worker that lives near you.

2.) Don’t smoke
Smoking can cause air pollution and can be very dangerous to our health. It does not only endanger the person smoking but also the people around him. Smoke from cigarettes release thousands of pollutants in the form of small particles which is called particulate matter. Furthermore, studies show that air pollution produced by cigarettes or tobacco is 10 times greater than the emissions by diesel cars.

3.) Learn to recycle
Recycling can help a lot in minimizing air pollution because when we recycle and reuse the things we have, lesser things need to be produced by factories and this helps lessen air pollution.

4.) Plant trees
Planting trees even in your backyard can help clean the air we breathe because trees produce oxygen we need.

5.) Save energy
Save energy at home or in the office by turning appliances and light off when not in use can help lessen air pollution. You can also save money by cutting off electricity consumption.

6.) Clean your home as often as possible
Cleaning your home can remove dust and air pollutants and make your home safer and healthier for your family to stay.

7.) Select the products you buy
Buy products that are reusable and eco-friendly. When shopping, you can use a canvas bag instead of a plastic bag.

There are many other things that we can do to minimize air pollution. We should start finding ways to clean our air now before more calamities will happen and might imperil the health of our children and those of the next generation. Let’s act now in saving our world and making it a better place to live.

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Biofuels may be defined as any fuel obtained from biomass. Biomass is material derived from plants and animals. Experts and environmentalists feel that we need to make changes in our manner of living so that we can protect the planet from global warming. Switching to biofuels for the transportation industry can be one such change.

Some of the Biofuels include vegetable oil, biodiesel, biogas and bioalcohol. Vegetable oil is used to manufacture biodiesel which can be used in cars. Biodiesel is generated through a process known as transesterification by using oils and fats. Today, this is the most commonly used biofuel in the world. Bioalcohols like ethanol fuel and butanol are produced by fermentation of sugars and starch. Biodiesel is a source of renewable energy, since it is plant based. It is a green fuel as it does not release toxic gases in the atmosphere.

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, mixed with the normal diesel. Biobutanol which is also called biogasoline can be used directly in a vehicle as a replacement for gasoline. Biofuels are beneficial to the environment as they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, increase national energy security, increase rural development and provide a sustainable fuel supply for the future.

Many environmental groups are supporting the use of biofuels since they see it as a significant step towards slowing down climate change. Many countries which are beginning to recognise the importance of bioenergy have dedicated facilities for research, development and deployment. There is exchange of information and co-operation among the nations who realize the importance of reaping the benefits of biofuels.

At present there are a few problems associated with the use of biofuels, one of them being the high cost of production. Another point of note is the extensive deforestation due to the use of wood as a source of biomass, and the negative impact it will have on the environment. There are other issues with bio diesel fuel relating to the transport industry, as it does not perform well in cold climates. The wax crystals formed may clog fuel lines of the vehicles. So vehicles may still have to be powered by gasoline in cold climates unless future research can overcome these problems.

In future however, biofuels should become cost effective, affordable, abundant and eco-friendly. This is a challenge for the scientists and hopefully, with the amount of research being done in the field of biotechnology, the world will get an abundant source of alternative energy. Once the stocks of fossil fuels deplete, and the price of oil rises to unprecedented levels, there will be tremendous pressure to look for alternatives. Biofuels can then be used as an alternative source of energy for powering your cars,boilers and engines as also providing heat and electricity to your homes.

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Biofuels have become talk of the town these days. These are obtained from biomass and utilize many renewable energy sources. These fuels also use plant matter as the raw material. Solid biomass is known to be the most common types of bio-fuels. The consistent rise in the price of fossil fuel has affected the world economy. The introduction of biofuels has come as a rescue to this problem. In fact, these have acted as a complete replacement for most of our energy requirements. However, prior to completely trusting this renewable energy source, it is important to know about the pros and cons of using biofuels. Stated below are some of the significant biofuels pros and cons.

Biofuels Pros and Cons:

The most obvious pros of using biofuel is the independence it allows from oil that can be bought from outside the United States. The best part is that the emissions coming from direct usage in automobiles is far lesser as compared to those from conventional fuels such as gasoline.

Other benefits:

Biofuels are extracted from the plant oils or animals. This facilitates recycling. This in turn, turns the trash into something resourceful.
Biofuels are cost-effective. In fact, these are considered to be the only fuel available at affordable price.
The best thing about biofuel is that they are safer and can be easily transported from one place to another sans posing any potential risk on the health of consumers.
When using biofuel, there is no peculiar gasoline stench. It is also sulfur-free. Additionally, it aids in eliminating acid rain.
Bio fuel can be used by all vehicle engine types.

Cons of using biofuels:

The traditional petroleum products produce more energy than biofuel. This may result in power loss in engines.
It is true that biofuel can function with most engines but there are just a few specifically designed for this type of fuel.

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As renewable energy incentives continue to arise in the European Union, the message to go green has been heard in the United Kingdom.  Biofuels are one of source of renewable energy that the UK has begun to research and develop in recent years.  Several European countries have set a target year of 2020 as the point at which a certain percentage of fuels must be produced by means of renewable resources.  Though Britain itself has not set this goal exactly, the nation understands the importance of furthering the environmental cause.

The majority of biofuels in the United Kingdom appear as biodiesel.  Though engines that have been modified to run on pure plant oils are obviously able to run on biofuels, a great number of engines still do not have that capability, so it is common to chemically process vegetable oil into biodiesel.  In the UK, standards have mandated that any diesel engine can utilize biodiesel in mixtures of up to 5% without any type of labeling.

In order to reduce harmful emissions during transport and encourage the use of biofuels, the United Kingdom created the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).  15 suppliers are responsible for most of the fossil fuel used in the UK for transport, and the RTFO has designated them as obligated suppliers.  Last year, these obligated suppliers were required to produce 2.5% biofuels as part of their output.  To ensure compliance with the RTFO its administering body, the Renewable Fuels Agency, instructs the obligated suppliers to produce Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFC) at the end of the year.  For every liter of biofuel reported, either by supplying the fuel directly or by trading with another, the supplier receives one RTFC.  This also creates possible revenue that can be used to fund more biofuel efforts in the United Kingdom.

The UK is not rushing blindly into the biofuel effort.  The government is aware of the controversy surrounding biofuels and the possibility of higher food costs due to a portion of the crops being designated for biofuel production.  Addressing these concerns, the United Kingdom has proposed that idle farmland be used for biofuels crops.  Additionally, the plans for a biofuels power plant in Avonmouth with the capacity to power nearly 25,000 homes, was shot down by city council.  Because the plant would have been fueled by palm oil, the councilors at Avonmouth voted against its construction because of the potential negative impact on the rain forests that would supply the palm oil.  This would have been blatantly counterproductive to ensuring the health of the environment.

With planning and research, the United Kingdom will continue to promote biofuels as one of the nation’s leading renewable energy sources.

We need only read the front page headlines of every major newspaper to understand the deepening oil crisis and the worldwide repercussions of supply and demand as it relates to our traditional energy resources. Is it any wonder that renewable sources of energy are gaining in popularity as an alternative resource? Biofuel is one emerging energy source that may help address the supply-and-demand dilemma versus modern world overdependence on petroleum and petroleum-based applications. Furthermore, biofuel advocates stress that biofuels give off cleaner emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur oxide, two greenhouse gases that are responsible for climactic change and global warming.

The Difference Between Biofuel and Fossil Fuel

The critical difference between biofuel and traditional fossil fuel is the number of years it takes to form. Biofuel is derived from recently dead biological or organic material. Traditional fossil fuel comes from long dead (read: millions of years old) biological organisms. For this reason, biofuel is considered a renewable resource because it can be replenished in a short period of time. Fossil fuel is classified as a non-renewable resource because its reserves are being depleted much faster than it takes to form new reserves.

While biofuel and fossil fuel are carbon-based properties (they both derive from biological matter) biofuel is considered carbon neutral because the energy is derived from plants, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Whereas, fossil fuels released carbon dioxide, which has been stored beneath the earth surface for millions of years, into the air. Carbon dioxide emissions are the number one pollutant.

Biofuel comes from a variety of feedstock sources, of which the more common ones are corn, sugar cane, palm, wheat, algae, and jatropha. From these feedstock sources, two popular fuels are produced for transportation and machineries. They are biodiesel and bioethanol. Broken down further, biodiesel is derived from plant oils; bioethanol is derived from fermented starch or sugar crops.

How Are Biofulels Used?

Biofuels can be used in a pure (denoted as B100) or a blended form (denoted as a percentage). Biofuel is the most common fuel used in Europe because European car manufacturers outfit their cars with diesel engines. For most unmodified diesel engines, advocates say blends of up to 20% (B20) are deemed safe. Higher concentrations require modifications to the diesel engine.

Bioethanol is suggested as a substitute for gasoline in vehicles. However, users have to be careful in choosing the proper blend of ethanol. Generally, a 10% blend of ethanol (E10) may be safe to be used in newer cars. Lower concentrations have been used in some older engines without having adverse effects on vehicle fuel lines, but users should consult their car manufacturers to find out if bioethanol is safe for their engines. In some cases, conversions can void the manufacturer warranty.

Proponents Say

Advocates suggest businesses, especially those in the transportation industry will benefit from using biofuels on two fronts: (1) When biofuel prices are more stable than oil prices, companies are in a better position to plan and budget fuel expenditures for the year. (2) Cleaner vehicular emissions may save transportation companies maintenance costs, while helping them meet new government mandated environmental standards.

Opponents Say

Opponents question how governments establish standards, regulations, and mandates and suggest that the underlying motivation for setting certain standards and enforcing mandates is political.

In other words, opponents contend that politicians are showing preferential treatment to their constituents and lobbyists. The end result is that governments, not the economy, are creating winners and losers. If your company or industry falls on the out of political favor side, you may wind up paying higher taxes or incurring higher costs to meet those politically inspired mandates

Car Manufacturer Status

Car manufactures today are being forced to produce more vehicles that are biofuel ready. In addition to using cheaper fuel, both manufacturers and buyers will be given government incentives (in the form of tax credits) to embrace renewable and alternative energy. Studies also suggest that certain types of biofuel (e.g., biodiesel) can make engines last longer when users maintain their cars by using the right biofuel blend.

The Food vs. Fuel Debate

Biofuel does have an underside and has been the subject of a current debate on food vs. fuel. Since biofuel uses plants that are also used in food supply (corn, maize, wheat, sugar cane, and coconut), this raises the question of whether it is appropriate to use food crops to create alternative fuel instead of filling world food demand. The debate has been further intensified as the world experienced what was deemed as a food crisis in 2007. Critics contend that using agricultural land to produce crops to be used in biofuel production led to this crisis.

These issues must be ironed out by policymakers and regulatory bodies to ensure a workable balance between access to energy and all other necessities.

Proponents and opponents come together around environmental and health benefits of going green. Thus the conversion to more biofuels is probably inevitable. Some are very concerned with how that is executed, since the timing of the changes is not clear. Also total direct and indirect costs and what groups benefit and which groups suffer are major concerns. With Congressional leadership dedicated to accelerating greener energy in a way that benefits their constituents and lobbyists (For example, why do tax deductions for trial attorneys help the general public?), there will definitely be winners and losers.

What the biofuels discussion is pointing to is the urgency to begin planning NOW for this inevitability to help protect industries and consumers from rising costs from energy, regulations and taxes.

Alternative Energy sources such as Biofuel, Biodiesel, and Green Oil are rapidly becoming big business as ethical investments become lucrative.

We are using more fossil fuel oil than we are finding. Though experts disagree about the time scale, most agree that the rate at which we are consuming traditional oil is now greater than the rate at which new reserves are being found, we have already entered the depletion phase and are on a downhill slope of terminal decline. In short, crude oil is running out.

What are our alternatives?

Biofuels.  Thanks to the Gulf of Mexico fiasco, many people are totally reconsidering the use of fossil fuels for energy and are opting for a cleaner, less harmfull alternative fuel like Jatropha or Millettia biofuels but what are they?

Jatropha and Millettia what?

Jatropha and Millettia are two hardy plants that can grow in harsh desert conditions, needing little water and care. Biofuels from Jatropha or Millettia are formed by crushing the seeds of the plant and extracting the oil.  The waste is biodegradable and can be used for farming.

What makes them so good?

Bio fuels are better for the planet and humanity for a variety of reasons:

Can be made in a matter of days as opposed to fossil fuels which take millions of years to build
Are safer compared to fossil fuels which produce pollution and harm emissions
Unlike fossil fuels, are a renewable source of energy which means that they can continually produce more energy

Both the Jatropha and the Millettia plant take about 3-4 years until they produce a significant amount of seeds to turn into “green oil”.  Once the plants are established however, it can live up to 20 years or more.
No machines are needed to take care of the plants or to harvest.
It is a renewable source of energy, producing year after year.
Nitrogen rich fetiliser, medicines and rubber can be made from the waste produce.

Why should we invest in this?

Fossil fuels will only go up in prices and are harmful to the environment so we need to take a stand and start investing in this new emerging technology.  World economy needs to start investing in the future of the planet and the human race.