Written in English, the work brings together articles by experts from different countries, who deal with different aspects related to biofuel production
The need to promote a reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels, the burning of which aggravates the process of global climate change, has mobilized scientists around the world, who dedicate their research to the development of biofuels. One of the most viable alternatives to the use of oil is biodiesel, which can be produced from different raw materials and using different methods. An overview of the investigations surrounding this topic is presented in the book A Closer Look at Biodiesel Production, which has just been released. The work, which is written in English and has as editors three researchers from Unicamp, brings together articles by experts from different countries, which provide updated data on the main studies that make up this scientific field.
The editors are post-doctoral student Luisa Fernanda Rios Pinto, doctoral student Érika Marques Takase and associate researcher and collaborating professor Harrson Silva Santana, all from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering (FEQ) at Unicamp. Luisa and Harrson were invited to prepare the book by the publisher Nova Science Publishers, based in New York (USA). Faced with the challenge, they called on Érika to help them organize the publication. The work brings together 13 articles, the majority produced by groups dedicated to biodiesel research. “We count on the collaboration of some of the most important researchers in the field. They deal with various topics, including raw materials, catalysis methods and by-products originating from the use of waste generated by biodiesel production”, reveals Luisa.
The topic “raw material” is one that attracts the attention of both experts and the occasional lay public. The first generations of biodiesel were produced from vegetable oils and animal lard. Currently, there are promising studies on the use of insect larvae and microalgae. The latter, according to Luisa, constitute a valuable source of lipids [read energy]. “Microalgae are abundant in nature. They are found in large concentrations in rivers and seas. The problem is that the process to remove water from these organisms is very expensive, which makes biodiesel production economically unfeasible. However, with the advancement of research, the tendency is for science to find an alternative to overcome this difficulty”, he understands.
One of the advantages of biodiesel, adds Harrson, is precisely the fact that biofuel can be produced from countless raw materials. “This allows us to use inputs available in each location, such as insect larvae, microalgae, vegetable oil and even waste generated by industrial production or by the population. One of the objectives of the book is to draw attention to these issues, in order to stimulate investment in research in the area. With this, knowledge will advance and we will be able to arrive at very interesting solutions from both an economic and environmental point of view”, he analyzes.
According to the editors, Brazil occupies an important space in this area of knowledge, which means that the country dialogues on an equal footing with the most important research groups in the world. “We lead studies on bioethanol in the world. The book is a representation of our outstanding role. Furthermore, we also have great biodiversity and climatic conditions that favor, for example, the development of plants that serve as raw materials for the production of biodiesel. We are facing a time of crisis, with cuts in research funding, but we have enormous potential that can and should be explored”, says Érika.
The three researchers note that the book is aimed at the scientific community dedicated to research on biodiesel, but it may also be of interest to undergraduate students from different areas who are looking for a topic to enter the scientific initiation program. “Research in this field must necessarily have multidisciplinary approaches. One area of knowledge is not capable, alone, of providing all the answers to the doubts that arise. Our work, for example, is in the field of Chemical Engineering, but involves the collaboration of chemists, biologists, physicists and computer scientists. Everyone is welcome”, points out Luisa.
Each editor received three copies from the publisher. Luisa will keep one copy and donate the other two, one to the institution where she graduated, the Universidad Industrial de Santander, in Colombia, and another for the Universidade Estácio de Sá, in Rio de Janeiro. Érika will also donate two copies, one to the Central Library “Cesar Lattes” (BC-CL) at Unicamp and the other to the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), where she graduated. Harrson will also donate a book to BC-CL. The publication can be purchased for US$230 on the publisher's website at this address: https://novapublishers.com/shop/a-closer-look-at-biodiesel-production/.