Chemistry 2210A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Diesel Fuel, Carbon-Based Fuel, Tropospheric Ozone

• School: Western University
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: Chemistry 2210A/B
• Professor: Keith Griffiths

Document Summary

Biofuels use contemporary photosynthetic mass . thus: indirect forms of solar energy. Power density of photosynthesis too low for the world"s energy needs. Release a lot of energy when they are burned. Liquids at normal temperatures and release lots of heat when burned: based from photosynthesis so it is carbon neutral. Carbon neutral: co2 + h2o photosynthesis plant matter + o2: take plant matter and oxygen combustion co2 + h2o. Fuels have oxygen content giving less pollutants: give less pollutants, form less compounds (aromatics, carbon monoxide) A lot of biomass to make a relatively small amount of fuel. Conversion of biomass to biofuels costs energy (cid:498)payback period(cid:499: requires fuel to convert biomass into fuel. Anything that is a carbohydrate can be used as biomass fuel. No true carbon free source of energy. A lot of energy consumed in creating other forms of energy. Long time use as an automobile fuel (1800s)