Thinking
In recent years, reducing the usage of fossil fuels has become a priority due to two main reasons: the burning of fossil fuels accounts for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and they are a non-renewable energy source, as there is a finite amount of coal, oil, and gas, which is rapidly depleting. Furthermore, approximately five million deaths yearly have been attributed to air pollution, which has been mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In 2023, the energy consumption of the UK was around 125.0 Mtoe, 76.8% of which was from fossil fuels.
Consequently, we must shift to more sustainable and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biofuels. Recently, there have been significant developments in biofuels, particularly from those derived from waste fat.
BIOFUELS
Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass, such as bioethanol, which is produced by fermenting sugar and starches. They are a renewable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly source of energy, as they emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases compared to other sources, such as coal. Using ethanol as a fuel for vehicles would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 86% compared to fossil fuels. Moreover, fuels derived from food waste could cut greenhouse gases by up to 94% in general.
Normally, biofuels contain many oxygen molecules, which can cause them to burn inefficiently; the energy produced by burning biofuels derived from fatty acids is 90% of that produced by diesel. Producing energy equivalent to diesel requires more materials and costs around twice as much as the production of fossil fuels. As a result, the usage of biofuels is rather limited and rare.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING BIOFUELS FROM WASTE
Researchers from King’s College London and the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory recently collaborated to discover a way to break down fatty acids in cooking oils into alkenes. They achieved this by modifying an enzyme called P450 decarboxylase. Not only does it break down fatty acids found in food waste, but it also extracts any oxygen in the mixture.
Normally, this enzyme requires water to function; therefore, it produces a low yield of alkenes. To overcome this, they activated the reaction by placing the modified enzyme in a liquid salt and shining UV light on it. This resulted in a greater yield of alkenes, which meant that the production of fuel required less energy and smaller amounts of raw materials, which could dramatically improve sustainability.
P450 decarboxylase is a biological catalyst, which means that conventional catalysts, which are normally mined, such as platinum, are not necessary—this avoids environmental damage. As they are using UV light, toxic chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, which are usually used to push the reaction forward, are also not needed.
THE FUTURE
Utilising used cooking oil avoids the use of other sources of biofuels, such as wood, which is obtained by mass deforestation, which has many harmful impacts on the environment, such as the destruction of habitats. Furthermore, this reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills or incinerated. It could also prove to be economically beneficial as it repurposes waste.
They aspire to use the same technology to enhance chemical reactions in different fields, such as to improve the production of pharmaceuticals. To make the use of biofuels widespread, it is necessary for governments to encourage further research as well as provide more incentives to produce biofuels, such as by implementing beneficial laws. The global demand for biofuels is likely to grow, currently being projected to increase by 30% by 2028.
Article taken from the latest edition of Scientia.
