August 31, 2014
Corresponding author: Emerson L Schultz emerson.schultz@embrapa.br
Embrapa Agroenergy, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB s/n – Av.W3 Norte (final), Brasília, 70770-901, DF, Brazil
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture 2014, 1:7 doi:10.1186/s40538-014-0007-z
Abstract
According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, global energy consumption will increase by at least one third, between 2010 and 2035. The additional power required will be provided not only by fossil sources but also by renewables. While the world energy matrix is supplied only by 13.2% from renewable sources, Brazil has different scenery with renewables accounting for 42.4% of the energy matrix. This work aimed to evaluate the potential use of oleaginous in biorefineries considering the produced quantity, prices, and costs of raw materials and products. Considering the availability of these raw materials, the results showed significant opportunities that can be exploited in Brazil, within the biorefinery concept. Soybean oil is the main raw material for biodiesel production in Brazil, although there are many other vegetable oils with potential for this purpose. Related to the production costs, the soybean biodiesel has higher costs than diesel. Then, this biofuel is only produced due to Brazilian regulatory rules and public subsidies. In order to become this production favorable in the market environment, it is essential to aggregate value to all byproducts and residues generated along the biodiesel production chain. Glycerin is a byproduct of biodiesel that could be used, in a glycerol biorefinery concept, as raw material for the production of value-added products through chemical, biochemical, or thermochemical routes.
Keywords: Biorefinery; Oleaginous; Soybean; Biodiesel; Glycerin; Biofuels; Chemicals; Energy; Prices and costs
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.chembioagro.com/content/1/1/7
image source: Texas A&M And University of Arkansas Work Cooperatively To Improve Soybean Crops
