Powering the Future: Biofuels
Activity: Oil viscosity
• Explain the importance of identifying fuel viscosity
• Carry out viscosity tests on a variety of different fuels
• Evaluate the pros and cons of different transport fuels
Facts and Figures
• To help combat climate change the UK has a target to reduce carbon
emissions by 80% by 2050.
• 30% of the UK renewable energy could come from biomass heat and
electricity by 2020.
• To meet the European Renewable Energy Directive, the UK is aiming for
10% of transport energy to be from renewable sources by 2020.
• 18% of the sustainable renewable road transport fuel used in the UK
between April 2012 and April 2013 came from UK feedstocks.
© John Innes Centre
Oilseed rape is currently grown for use as a food crop as well as production of
biofuels. In 2009 the UK biofuel produced from oilseed rape was13% of total
biofuel feedstocks. Estimates suggest that it would require 40% of the UK
arable land to produce 5% of the UK transport fuel from oilseed rape. It is
therefore vital that research finds alternatives to current biofuels.
© John Innes centre
Oilseed rape exploding pods: Controlling pod shattering could lead to greatly
increased yields of oilseed rape.
© Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Algae light microscope image: In order to develop biofuels from algae, research is
being conducted to find suitable strains that produce high levels of oils, can tolerate
heat and high concentrations of carbon dioxide, and are easy to harvest.
Bubble Columns: Microalgae can be
grown in large bioreactors and
continually harvested unlike crops or
macroalgae. They could be grown using
the waste carbon dioxide from industrial
processes, power stations or waste
treatment plants. The oil they produce
can then be converted into liquid fuel.
© Plymouth Marine Laboratory
© Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Scanning Electron Microscope image of algae: Algae can harvest the power of
the sun through photosynthesis and convert this into biomass including oil. They
are fast growing and more efficient than plants at absorbing carbon dioxide.
© Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Fluorescent staining of oil in algae: In order to develop algal biofuels research is
being conducted to find suitable strains that produce high levels of oils, can
tolerate heat and high concentrations of carbon dioxide, and are easy to harvest.
Viscosities and molecular structures
Substance
Dynamic Viscosity @ 25°C
(mPa.s)
Refined sunflower oil
48.98
Refined corn oil
51.44
Olive oil
63.28
Glycerol
1420 (20°C)
Biodiesel
5.75
Bioethanol
Water
1.1 (20°C)
1 (20°C)
Molecular structure
10% (sat f.a.s)
20% (monounsat f.a.s)
70% (polunsat.f.a.s)
12% (sat f.a.s)
31%(monounsat f.a.s)
57% (polunsat.f.a.s)
15% (sat f.a.s)
75% (monounsat f.a.s)
10% (polunsat.f.a.s)
C3H8O3
RCOOCH3
C2H5OH
H2O
Activity: Oil viscosity
• Explain the importance of identifying fuel viscosity
• Carry out viscosity tests on a variety of different fuels
• Evaluate the pros and cons of different transport fuels
Contributors