This research paper is conducted to develop the concept of bio-fuels. Bio-fuels are a renewable source of energy made from recently living biomass. According to the literature, different production processes exist leading to different types of bio-fuels. However, this research paper focuses on the two most common types: bio-ethanol and bio-diesel. The most efficient industrial production process adding to it the environmental and the economical impact are analyzed for each of these gasoline replacements. Being a Chemical Engineer taking courses in petroleum engineering and knowing the pros and cons of this hydrocarbon energy, pushed me to work on this paper as I do believe that we should be confronting the energy crisis before it reaches its peak. In this paper, the ways of producing bio-fuels are introduced by: - Identifying the raw materials present in the feed stock. - Establishing the chemical process. - Pointing out the advantages of biofuels. - Discussing the economical impact of biofuels.

1. Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - USEK
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
A new World… World not built around Carbon
Rita EL KHOURY
Project Supervisor Term
Dr. Laurence AJAKA Spring 2016-2017
Submitted on: 11 April 2017

2. 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is an authentic pleasure to offer my deep sense of gratitude to all those who believed in me
and supported me through the bad and good times. My sincere recognition goes to Dr.
Laurence AJAKA for giving me the opportunity to write this research paper and for their
valuable guidance.
Afterward, I owe a deep sense of gratitude to Dr Barbar ZEGHONDY, dean of the faculty of
engineering, and Dr. Hamza MAGNIER, because of their wisdom, expertise and guidance
my years of study here at the university were positively impacted.
I am thankful to my parents for not giving me the fish, but instead teaching me how to fish
with great moral and emotional support. I am deeply glad for having friends who bring a
great amount of happiness into my life. My heart bursts whenever I think about all of the
unforgettable joyful moments we spent together. .
Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone who helped me in a way or another to
finalize this project. I greatly appreciate all the assistance, inspiration and encouragement that
I got during my academic year that I feel so fortunate to spending it at Holy Spirit University
of Kaslik.

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ABSTRACT
We should all be concerned about the pollution of our environment. In fact, the entire
transportation sector, the industries and the power stations rely on combustion of fossil fuels
to produce the required energy. Although the fossil fuels provide the highest percentage of
energy use in the world, there is a huge environmental impact that should be taken into
consideration. The urge of having another resource led me to talk about biofuels which are
new promising kinds of renewable energy sources due to its ecological favorable advantages.
In this paper, I will introduce this renewable energy and shed lights on its positive impact.
Key words: fossil fuels, pollution, energy, biofuels.

4. 4
Table of contents
Table of contents........................................................................................................................... 4
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 5
2. Research Methodology......................................................................................................... 6
3. Experiment.............................................................................................................................. 7
4. Results....................................................................................................................................... 8
5. Discussion................................................................................................................................ 9
6. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................10

5. 5
1. Introduction
Energy is essential for the sustainable development of a mankind. Fossil fuels
represent 80% of the world energy needs. This crucial dependence on fuel ends up plainly
one of the main issues confronting us. Fossil fuels are a non renewable source of energy. The
deposition and accumulation of coal, oil and natural gas in the Earth’s sedimentary layers and
rocks, the most common reservoirs, take millions of years. Furthermore, the combustion of
fossil fuels leads to the environment pollution and global warming due to the high emission
of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Hence, the transition to alternative fuels that are kind to the environment, such as biofuels, is
essential in order to elaborate a new concept based on green and clean energy. This urgent
need to use ecologically friendly fuels pushed the Swiss Government to put a lot of efforts to
evaluate different biofuels crops and compare it with fossil fuels on economically and
environmentally level based on a study done by Zah et al.
Back to 2006, Canada’s government declared its intention to plan and develop a new
regulation encouraging the use of renewable fuel as biodiesel. Many studies in addition to a
research program were conducted by the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute for ensuring
a successful transition into biofuels.
On the other hand, to boost the use of biofuels in the sports field specifically in the racing
world, Le Mans racing car is the American series that announced the green competition in
2008. Christian Bookish a member of the team claims that biodiesel cars are able to compete
without polluting the environment.

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2. Research Methodology
This research paper is designed to develop the concept of biofuels. It is based on
different studies, tests, experiences and surveys that I myself conducted through banks.
Biofuels are a renewable energy source made from recently living biomass. According to the
literature, different production processes exist leading to different types of biofuels. However,
this research will focus on the two most common sorts of biofuels: bioethanol and biodiesel.
The most efficient industrial production process adding to it the environmental and the
economical impact will be analyzed for each of these gasoline replacements.
I am a chemical engineer currently taking my undergraduate studies in petroleum
engineering. My knowledge in the pros and cons of the petroleum sector pushed me to work
on this paper as I do believe that we should be confronting the energy crisis before it reaches
its peak. I will be introducing the ways of producing biofuels by:
- Identifying the raw materials present in the feedstock.
- Establishing the chemical process.
- Pointing out the advantages of biofuels.
- Discussing the economical impact of biofuels.

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3. Experiment
Biofuels are produced from renewable biomass materials. Two common procedures
are established for the synthesis of biofuels. The first is to grow vegetables and plants that
contain oil and fats such as sunflower oil, palm oil, algae. The second strategy is to cultivate
vegetation and plants considered as a major source of sugar like sugar cane, corn, sugar beet.
Our daily life bio waste specifically the cooking oil could be used as feedstock for the
production process of biofuels after being treated and recycled.
Biodiesel is a type of biofuels synthesized from vegetable oils, including soybean,
palm oil, animal fats and waste oil food by trans-esterification. The oil is extracted
mechanically or chemically from these plants. The trans-esterification is a chemical reaction
that occurs in the presence of alcohol additives (e.g. methanol), and catalysts such as
potassium hydroxide or sodium. On the industrial scale, methanol is commonly used due to
its relative low price and high efficacy. During this reaction, the triglyceride molecules
coming from the oil and fats are transformed into monoesters called the fatty acid methyl
esters and into glycerol, a co-product. The physical properties of the mixture of monoesters
obtained are similar to those of fossil diesel fuels. Thus, the fatty acid methyl esters became
known as biodiesel.
Bioethanol is the most common type of biofuels representing over 90% of aggregate
biofuels use. It is produced by the fermentation process of sugars followed by a distillation
operation. It is a very well known process where the sugar comes from corns, sugar canes,
potatoes and many other raw materials. Brazil is classified as the world’s largest producer of
bioethanol from sugar canes, while the United States produces bioethanol from corns. The
production process is primarily based on the pre-treatment of biomass in order to obtain the
required amount of cellulose from the feedstock. Then, a hydrolysis reaction occurs which
will end up by releasing the 6-carbon sugars. After the fermentation of the 6-carbon sugars, a
distillation column operates to produce ethanol at fuel grade. The solid residues resulting
from the non hydrolyzed cellulose are separated, treated and used as fuels in this production
process. This integration helps in reducing the cost of energy used for this production.

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4. Results
The final products of the process of trans-esterification are biodiesel and glycerol.
After purification, glycerol could be used in the food sector and in cosmetic industries. The
properties1
of the biodiesel obtained are close the those of fossil diesel, for instance the
density of biodiesel at a temperature of 20 ͦ C is 0.88 kg/L while it’s 0.83 kg/L for petroleum
diesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel classified as an alternative source of energy. On account
of the variety of feedstock used, the output of biodiesel depends on the reactants and the
process conditions. Typical values are 40% to 65% reduction in CO₂ emission which proves
that biodiesel is a potential solution for reducing the green house effect and the global
warming. In fact, biofuels still discharge carbon dioxide but the process of photosynthesis is
more dynamic since biodiesel comes from grown plants, its combustion will release CO₂ that
is easier to absorb by the plants than the one released by fossil fuels.
Furthermore, the biodiesel obtained has a low content in sulfur and the ester mixture contains
a relative high percentage of oxygen promoting clean combustion.
The second type of biofuels discussed in this paper is bioethanol. This key product
resulting from several chemical processes combined in multiples unit operations has a high
octane number allowing it to substitute gasoline. The molecules of biofuels contain few
amounts of oxygen that the combustion occurs at low temperature and the emission of toxic
gases is reduced by 90%2
. As a matter of fact, CO₂ emission is 0.2-0.3 kg CO₂ per liter
ethanol compared with 2.8 kg CO₂ per liter for conventional gasoline. Bioethanol, being
biodegradable, is an eco-friendly compound.
Sugar canes bioethanol is energy efficient since the sugar is easily extracted and the process
operates at high yield. However, if corns are used as feedstock, the production process
requires high energy input and the percentage of CO₂ emission is quietly higher.
Bioethanol has a high octane number, broader combustibility limits and high heat of
vaporization. These properties and many others endorse that bioethanol is much better than
gasoline in an internal combustion engine.
1
According to the European biofuels technology platform
2
Based on the IEA Energy Technology Essentials

9. 9
5. Discussion
Nowadays, the demand on fossil fuels is increasing due to the great development of
societies and the growth of the population. However, the depletion of this source of energy
and its damaging impact on the environment raise the awareness of finding new alternatives.
Biofuels offer a promising guarantee for a sustainable renewable energy. This bio-energy
besides being favorable to the atmosphere as proved previously provides many advantages on
the economical level.
Most of the countries depend on foreign oil and gas. This fact causes heavy loads on the state
treasury since the oil barrel price is not fixed; it is exposed to some fluctuations due to the
high demand from one part, and the supply limits from the other part. The ultimate
consequence will lead to economic recession. Biofuels being much cheaper to purchase than
gasoline will boost the local economy of the country and will reduce the subjection on
foreign oil. The production of biofuels requires a prosperous agriculture and industrial sectors
which will create new job opportunities for the upcoming generation.
Christian Bookish, the winner of Le Mans racing car in 2008, was interviewed about his
experience in driving one of the Audi’s car that works on biodiesel. The interview was
published on the official site of Le Mans race series (Le Mans.org). Bookish declared that
the aim of the race was to bring to light the green technology and to prove that in the future
biodiesel can be used in racing cars with a full warranty. The race will bring the fun and
pleasure to the participants without polluting the environment by the emission of carbon
monoxide.
On the other hand, using the ethanol reduce slightly the performance of the car and its power
to accelerate in comparison with gasoline. Thus, ethanol is mixed with some gasoline and the
result is E85, meaning 85% are ethanol. Back to 2007, there were about 5.5 million Flex
Vehicles running on E85 on the road of the United States. Aren’t the limit in acceleration,
and accordingly the decrease in road accident rate, what societies yearned for? Biofuels in the
car’s engine along with all the road safety regulations assure that our young adults won’t be
subject to accidents or death while driving!

10. 10
6. Conclusion
To sum up, all the experiments and evidences discussed in this paper encourage the
use of biofuels. Global warming, international and national conflicts and many serious issues
confronting us could be minimized by upholding the bio-energy industry. The governments
must be aware of the depletion of fossil fuels and instead of fighting over what remains, they
should be encouraging the use of biofuels and investing in a renewable sustainable source of
energy.
The recent discovery of natural gas in the Lebanese offshore may transform Lebanon into a
gas producer country. All hopes hang on exceptional, effective, adequate management of the
oil and gas sector moving the country toward a better stable nation. However, this blessing
won’t last forever giving that natural gas is a non renewable energy. The revenues from the
gas exploration and production should be invested in a smart effective way by establishing a
new economic vision based on encouraging the development of a sustainable bio-energy
field.
Lebanon is my beloved country and my paper is for shedding lights and increasing the
attention on a renewable, clean alternative source of energy that bring mush more
convenience to the upcoming generations. Shall we hope for a new world not built around
petrol?

11. 11
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Science Direct, 2012 International Conference on Future Energy, Environment, and
Materials.
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2, p134-156, 2011.
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2932, 2014.
[5] Jassem AJAKA, « oil and gas »,
http://www.jassemajaka.com/oilandgaz
[6] « Biofuels production », IEA Energy Technology Essentials, January 2007.
https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/essentials2.pdf
[7] Jason KUSHNER, Head writer and editor, «Alternative Fuel Production»,
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[8] STOCKER James, « No EEZ Solution: The Politics of Oil and Gas in the Eastern
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