Second generation bio-fuels can address food & energy security, says
experts
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Monday , February 11, 2008 at 0011 hrs IST

New Delhi, Feb 11 Experts are of the view that the second generation
bio-fuels extracted from micro-algae and other microbial sources,
lingo-cellulosic biomass, rice straw and bio-ethers can be a better
option for addressing both food and energy security and environmental
concerns than largescale plantation of bio-fuel crops like Jatropha
and Pongamia.

Vijayanand S Moholkar of the Guwahati-based Indian Institute of
Technology said, “Pre-liminary experiments show tremendous potential
for micro-algae derived oil feedstock for economic synthesis of
bio-diesel. Proper cultivation of micro-algae can produce 10 times
more oil than Jatropha in the same piece of land. Jatropha and Karanja
yield not more than 1 to 1.5 tonne of oil per hectare of cultivation
�"a major limitation, which adversely affects the bio-diesel Economy.”

Moholkar was in Delhi last week to participate in the 5th
International Bio-fuels Conference organised by Winrock
International-India. He said largescale production of micro-algae can
be done in raceway ponds (closed loop recirculation channels) and
photobioreactors. The prices of micro-algal oil and crude fossil oil
must differ by two orders of magnitude, so as to make microalgal
bio-diesel a cost-effective alternative, he said.

K Subramaniam from the biotechnology department of
Sathyamangalam-based Bannari Amman Institute of Technology favoured
biochemical conversion of rice straw and other biomass into
bio-ethanol. He said that the bio-ethanol production from cheaply
available rice straw by separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation
can be economically viable.

According to Mritunjay Kumar Shukla of the Dehradun-based Indian
Institute of Petroleum bio-ethers, particularly Dimethyl ether (DME),
Diethyl ether (DEE) and methylal seem to be promising among all the
bio-fuels due to their oxygenated molecular structure, better
combustion characteristics, superior well-to-wheel efficiency, low GHG
emissions and higher production efficiency.

The director-general of International Crops Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), William D Dar said that his institute has
found out the way for production bio-ethanol without comprising food
security. The stalks of the varieties of sweet sorghum developed by
the institute can produce bio-ethanol and increase livelihood options
for farmers in dryland areas.

However, Winrock claims that it has successfully launched rural
electrification programme in village Ranidehra in Chhattisgarh by use
of Jatropha oil.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Second-generation-biofuels-can-address-food\
-&-energy-security-says-experts/271495/