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Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability
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Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability

A special issue of Fuels (ISSN 2673-3994).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 11990

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Athanasios Rentizelas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: biofuel value chains; sustainable supply chain management; supply chain network design optimization; circular economy-enabling supply chains; reverse logistics; zero-emission logistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria Founti

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Lab. of Heterogeneous Mixtures & Combustion Systems, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: combustion; fire engineering; energy efficiency in buildings; LCA; KPIs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biofuels have been one of the key solutions for decarbonizing transport, and they are expected to play an even more important role in the near future. However, the sustainability of biofuel production has received criticism, especially regarding the indirect land-use change (iLUC) and carbon emissions in the value chain. For this reason, innovations within the value chain that enhance the sustainability of biofuels are of critical importance to achieving transport decarbonization, especially in the heavy transport and aviation sectors.

This Special Issue invites contributions in reporting innovative approaches in biofuel value chains, as well as in improving the sustainability of biofuels. This may also involve novel biofuel types. The contributions may cover the whole value chain or a part of it, whether this is the biomass cultivation/sourcing, processing to biofuels or biofuel precursors, or upgrading, as well as the end-use of biofuels. Any organizational, technological, or supply/value chain innovations that can improve either the efficiency or the sustainability of biofuels are also highly welcome.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Innovative biofuel value chains;
  • Innovative uses of biofuels;
  • Innovative business models for biofuels;
  • Innovative technologies for biofuels or biofuel precursors;
  • Novel crops for biofuels;
  • Biofuel production from contaminated biomass;
  • Biofuel decontamination technologies;
  • Techno-economic analyses for biofuel production;
  • Value chain analysis;
  • Supply chain design optimization;
  • Innovative resource use for biomaterials;
  • Life cycle analysis/life cycle costing;
  • Environmental impact from biofuel production and use;
  • Water–energy–food nexus in biofuels;
  • Policies driving innovative value chains.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Energies.

Dr. Athanasios Rentizelas
Prof. Dr. Maria Founti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fuels is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biofuels
  • value chain
  • supply chain
  • sustainability
  • environmental impact
  • life cycle analysis
  • conversion technologies
  • decontamination technologies
  • policy

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4371 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation of Performance, Combustion, and Emission Characteristics of Various Microalgae Biodiesel on CI Engine
by Madeeha Rehman, Sujeet Kesharvani and Gaurav Dwivedi
Fuels 2023, 4(2), 132-155; https://doi.org/10.3390/fuels4020009 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2124
Abstract
Biodiesel is being considered a possible alternative fuel due to its similarity with diesel and environmental benefits. This current work involves a numerical investigation of CI engine characteristics operating on D100 (diesel) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (DMB20), Scenedesmus obliquus (SOMB20), Scenedesmus dimorphu (SDMB20), and [...] Read more.
Biodiesel is being considered a possible alternative fuel due to its similarity with diesel and environmental benefits. This current work involves a numerical investigation of CI engine characteristics operating on D100 (diesel) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (DMB20), Scenedesmus obliquus (SOMB20), Scenedesmus dimorphu (SDMB20), and Chlorella protothecoides (CMB20) microalgae biodiesel blend. A diesel engine of 3.7 kW was used with variable compression ratios (CRs) (15.5, 16.5, 17.5, and 18.5) and constant speed (1500 rpm). Comparative analysis was performed for engine characteristics, including emission, combustion, and performance. Cylinder pressure, heat release rate, brake thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, particulate matter, oxide of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc., were evaluated using the blended fuel. The results show that the maximum cylinder pressure falls, SFC increases, and EGT and BTE were reduced for all blends at full load. In terms of emission characteristics, PM and smoke were lowered when compared to diesel, but a slight increment in NOx and CO2 was observed. Among all the blends, SOMB20 shows the most decrement in PM and smoke emissions by 14.16% and 11.6%, respectively, at CR 16.5. CMB20 shows a maximum increment in SFC by 3.22% at CR 17.5. A minimum reduction in CP and HRR was shown by DMB20 irrespective of CRs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability)
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15 pages, 1707 KiB  
Article
Energy Recovery Potential from Effluents in the Process Industry: System Dynamics Modeling and Techno-Economic Assessments
by Tofunmi D. Adepoju, Abiodun S. Momodu, Ibikunle O. Ogundari and Joshua Akarakiri
Fuels 2022, 3(4), 627-641; https://doi.org/10.3390/fuels3040038 - 04 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1766
Abstract
This study quantifies the effluents generated during processing in three industry types, estimates the energy potential from the quantified effluents in the form of biogas generation, and determines the economic viability of the biogas recovered. Data were procured from the relevant scientific publications [...] Read more.
This study quantifies the effluents generated during processing in three industry types, estimates the energy potential from the quantified effluents in the form of biogas generation, and determines the economic viability of the biogas recovered. Data were procured from the relevant scientific publications to quantify the effluents generated from the production processes in the industry types examined, using industrial process calculations. The effluent data generated are used in the 2-module biogas energy recovery model to estimate the bioenergy recovery potential within it. Economic and financial analysis is based on a cash-flow comparison of all costs and benefits resulting from its activities. The effluents generated an average daily biogas of 2559 Nm3/gVS, having a daily potential combined heat and power of 0.52 GWh and 0.11 GWh, respectively. The life cycle analysis and cost-benefit analysis show the quantity of emissions avoided when using the effluents to generate heat and power for processes, along with the profitability of the approach. Conclusively, the study shows that the use of biomass effluents to generate biogas for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a viable one, based on the technologies of a reciprocating engine, gas turbine, microturbine, and fuel cell. However, it is recommended that the theoretical estimation be validated using a field-scale project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability)
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Review

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20 pages, 1963 KiB  
Review
Three Pillars of Advanced Biofuels’ Sustainability
by Tamás Mizik and Gábor Gyarmati
Fuels 2022, 3(4), 607-626; https://doi.org/10.3390/fuels3040037 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4457
Abstract
Today, reducing GHG emissions is an important goal worldwide. Initially, first-generation biofuels were considered as a solution; however, they created a conflict between food and fuel. Advanced biofuels, which use non-edible materials, have emerged and are becoming more widespread, thus resolving this conflict. [...] Read more.
Today, reducing GHG emissions is an important goal worldwide. Initially, first-generation biofuels were considered as a solution; however, they created a conflict between food and fuel. Advanced biofuels, which use non-edible materials, have emerged and are becoming more widespread, thus resolving this conflict. The paper aimed to investigate the three pillars of advanced biofuels’ sustainability (economic, environmental, and social). In the frame of a systematic literature review, 41 out of the initially screened 3407 articles were analyzed in depth. The economic aspect of sustainability was the most frequently occurring topic, followed by the environmental aspect, while the number of articles related to the social aspect was limited. From the economic point of view, all the analyzed articles agreed that advanced biofuels are far from commercialization at this stage; however, there are promising options related to different feedstocks or production technologies. Advanced biofuels perform unequivocally better environmentally than even conventional biofuels. For third-generation biofuels, negative net GHG emissions can even be possible, while fourth-generation biofuels can theoretically be produced from CO2. With respect to the social pillar, job creation was the core element of the articles analyzed. This can be experienced at the farm, production, and research levels. Although the commercialization of advanced biofuel production will take time, humanity must turn to them in order to avoid the food versus fuel problem, as well as to successfully fight against climate change and global warming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability)
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24 pages, 6473 KiB  
Review
An Assessment of Liquid Biofuel Value Chains from Heavy-Metal Contaminated Feedstock
by Dimitrios Giannopoulos, Ilias Katsifis, Dimitrios Katsourinis, Athanasios Rentizelas and Maria Founti
Fuels 2022, 3(3), 509-532; https://doi.org/10.3390/fuels3030031 - 13 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2072
Abstract
The present work aims to identify alternative liquid biofuel value chain scenarios utilizing heavy metal (HM)-contaminated biomass feedstocks. The analysis is based on breaking down existing liquid biofuel value chains, focusing on the required adaptations needed for clean biofuel production. State-of-the-art and emerging [...] Read more.
The present work aims to identify alternative liquid biofuel value chain scenarios utilizing heavy metal (HM)-contaminated biomass feedstocks. The analysis is based on breaking down existing liquid biofuel value chains, focusing on the required adaptations needed for clean biofuel production. State-of-the-art and emerging liquid biofuel production options are reviewed. The potential implications caused by the HM load in the biomass feedstock are analyzed along the whole biofuel production chain, which includes pre-processing, conversion and post-processing stages. The fate of the most common HM species present in contaminated biomass is identified and graphically represented for advanced (second generation) biofuel conversion processes. This information synthesis leads to the description of alternative value chains, capable of producing HM-free biofuel. This work goes a step further than existing reviews of experiments and simulations regarding heavy metal-contaminated biomass (HMCB) valorization to biofuels since feasible value chains are described by synthesizing the findings of the several studies examined. By defining the adapted value chains, the “road is paved” toward establishing realistic process chains and determining system boundaries, which actually are essential methodological steps of various critical evaluation and optimization methodologies, such as Life Cycle Assessment, supply chain optimization and techno-economic assessment of the total value chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuel Value Chains: Innovations and Sustainability)
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