Understanding the Production of Biofuels in the United States

The current situation in the global demand for fuel is definitely becoming a global phenomenon, which develops to be a worldwide problem that directly affects the global society and the lives of people. Thus, for the past years, the global oil industry has experienced shortage and/or a crisis, which has caused the international oil price to increase with more than twice its normal rate. This global oil crisis and the higher rate of oil prices are indeed detrimental and difficult for the people and in the global economy.This problem results to more difficulties in the financial burden of the people and makes the global society suffer from the expensive rate of the crude oil and affects other major industries in its operation. Hence, with the continuous increase in worldwide oil price and the broadening campaign for global crisis, the production of biofuels is now regaining fame and significance amidst all these global issues. In this regard, this research paper concentrates on the top ic about the production and use of biofuels in the United States as an alternative to the ones that is already in the global mainstream oil market.The paper would work on investigating the process of the United States in producing biofuels by utilizing natural materials such as plants that are rich with the needed substances in making such oil product. Thus, this research would also focus on determining the positive and negative implications of producing biofuels, as an answer to the growing oil and energy crisis, among the major industries that would directly affected by such process of manufacturing biofuels. Probable Plants to be utilized for the Production of BiofuelsAs seen to be one of the richest countries in the globe and with the present resources they have, the United States of America is regarded to be one of the leading countries that produces large amount of biofuels, more specifically ethanol fuel and biodiesel, which alternatively supplies the local demand for oil to power vehicles. It is seen that ethanol and biodiesel are the primary biofuels utilized in the United States and as such, the country uses mainly corn kernels and soybeans in producing respective biofuels for local transportation and industry consumption.As of the present time, the United States uses corn kernels in producing bioethanol, which also utilizes a little fraction made from sorghum (Hagens). As such, through the use of corn crops alone, the United States is able to produce 4. 9 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006. On the other hand, the production of biodiesel in the United States uses mainly soybean oil and other vegetable oils where in the same year of 2006, the country has produced 100 million gallons biodiesel out of these natural resources (Hagens).Moreover, other major countries that also produces biofuels as an alternative oil to power up their local transportation and industry also uses relatively the same natural resources with the ones that the United States has been using in their own production (Hagens). For instance, Brazil, one of the leading producers of bioethanol, also uses corn kernels being one of the countries which produces large amount of corn crops (Hagens).As for the developing countries such as the Philippines, the productions of biofuels just in their beginnings where the plants to be use for such process depends on the location and available plant resources. In the Philippines, plants like Jathropa Curcas or better known as Physic nut is given more attention as one of the potential primary natural resources in producing biodiesel and cassava perennial plant in processing bioethanol fuels (Varona). How this plants grown and processed to produce biofuelsPlanting and growing these plants in producing biofuels requires typical way plant farming, which only requires a certain demand for fossil fuel consumption for the entire process of producing biofuels. As for the plant that produces bioethanol such as the corn, the process of planting and growing is seen to be tricky that entails possible negative results in the environment (Biodiesel Edges Out Ethanol). Firstly, the corn is often globally regarded as a crop that is not environmentally friendly, which requires enormous quantities of fertilizers and pesticides in growing.Study shows that the impact of large-scale cultivation has negative adverse effects on the environment wherein the soil becomes uncultivable after the harvesting of corns that requires certain amount of time for recovery (Keim). As for the growing of soybean that is being used in producing biodiesel, the planting process is relatively easier but also environmentally unfriendly. To be able to achieve the greatest quality of soy beans for biodiesel production, though soybeans is adaptable to different conditions of soil, seeds must be planted in a top quality soil and in temperate weather.Thus, the impact of soybean large-scale cultivation entails negative adverse effects in the environmen t wherein through this entire process of planting and growing, the healthy and fertile soil and water are being polluted through the use of detrimental chemicals such as pesticide and fertilizer (Soybean Production). Production Process for Corn The process involved in producing ethanol out of corn involves several processes. The first step includes addition of water to grains which have been previously grounded (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†).The mixture of water and grounded grains is subjected to high temperatures under the liquefaction process and alpha-amylase are added (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†). After which, it goes through fermentation where yeast is used in order for the sugars to be fermented, which then produces ethanol and carbon dioxide (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†). The beer produced in the fermentation tanks proceed through a distillation system that separates the ethanol and leaves a â€Å"whole still age† (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†). In the â€Å"whole stillage† the solids are separated from the liquid through the process of centrifugation.Afterwards, an evaporation step is done for the liquid portion to remove any excess water and leaves condensed syrup (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†). This condensed syrup is placed back with the grains of wet distillers and is dried to come up with DDGS or â€Å"distillers’ dried grains with solubles† (â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products†). A diagram for this process is shown below: Production Process for Soybean The main process through which soybean can be turned into soy biodiesel is called transesterification, which makes soybean oil transform into esters (â€Å"How to Make Soy Biodiesel From Scratch†).In the said process, the oil of the soybean is separated and its glycerine sinks at the bottom and the soybean biodesel goes to the surface (â€Å"Ho w to Make Soy Biodiesel From Scratch†). When this happens, the soybean biodiesel is siphoned (â€Å"How to Make Soy Biodiesel From Scratch†). Efficient Producers of Biofuels In a sense, the fully developed countries like the United States and Brazil are regarded as efficient producers of biofuels as compared to the other developing countries that are having a hard time establishing and starting a reliable way of producing biofuels.Unlike any other countries, the United States and Brazil are the top producers of biofuels, more specifically the bioethanol, which made them successful in attending to their local demands for clean fuels for energy consumption. In addition to this, the European countries also are among the top and efficient producers of another biofuel which is that of the biodiesel that normally caters to the demand of clean diesel fuel for their local vehicle and transportation. In these countries, there is a reliable means of producing these biofuels due t o the available resources as compared to other countries.Plants Consumption for Biofuel and its effect in the Global Food Prices With the trend in using some of the major plants for producing biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel, this entire process entails negative impacts in the supply and price of food in the worldwide market, more especially among the developing countries. Thus, there are reports that the consumption of plants, more specifically with corns and soybeans, creates shortage on the supply for human consumption as food. As such? in most of the countries across the globe, the production of biofuels is being blamed to be the number one cause of global food crisis.In addition to this, such consumption of plants for biofuel production generates shortage and difficulties for developing countries with the continuous increase in the price of food in the global market (Lovgren). Conclusion In the end, the production of biofuels as an alternative solution for the ever loo ming energy crisis is indeed a brilliant idea and a positive approach to resolve such global problem. However, the countries which serve as the major producers of biofuels must also ensure the welfare of the people and do this in such a way that is not harmful for the public and the environment.Thus, the major biofuel producers must also continue to do research with the purpose of discovering other ways of producing biofuels aside from consuming plants that are supposed to be allotted for human consumption to be able to avoid the competition between the interest of the public and need for resolving the looming global energy crisis. Work Cited Aoko, Sam. 12 World’s Largest Biofuel Plants. Eco Worldly. 18 November 2009 < http://ecoworldly. com/2008/04/23/12-worlds-largest-biofuel-plants/> Biodiesel Edges Out Ethanol. Last Updated July 18, 2006. RenewableEnergyWorld. com. 18 February 2009 < http://www. renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2006/07/biodiesel-edges-out-ethanol -45457> Hagens, Nate. The Implications of Biofuel Production for United States Water Supplies. The Oil Drum. 18 February 2009 â€Å"How to Make Soy Biodiesel From Scratch. † 2009. All Soy Products. 18 February 2009 . Keim, Brandon. Corn-Based Biofuels Spell Death for Gulf of Mexico. Last Updated March 13, 2008. CondeNet, Inc. 18 February 2009 Lovgre, Stefan. Hardy Plant May Ease Biofuels' Burden on Food Costs.Last Updated April 21, 2008. National Geographic Society. 18 February 2009 Soybean Production. Last Updated February 18, 2009. National Soybean Research Laboratory. 18 February 2009 â€Å"Utilization of Bio-fuel Co-products. † University of Saskatchewan. 18 February 2009 . Varona, Bernice. Power plants: University spearheads biofuel R&D. UP System Information Office. 18 February 2009 < http://www. up. edu. ph/upnewsletter. php? i=321>