Chapter 2
Microbiological Aspects of Bioenergy
Production: Recent Update and Future
Directions
Veer Singh, Ritesh Tiwari, Vivek Kumar Chaturvedi, Nidhi Singh, and
Vishal Mishra
Abstract Biofuels are considered as alternative of fossil fuels. Nowadays, conventional fuels like as petrol, diesel, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are the major
sources of energy. The sources of fossil fuels are limited on the Earth crust and will
be finished after a certain period of time. Biofuels like bioethanol, biomethanol,
biogas, biohydrogen, and biodiesel are derived from various types of biological
sources (plant, algae, microbial biomass) and considered as renewable sources of
energy. They are green energy sources and cost-effective and also considered
as alternative of fossil fuel in the future. They can be classified into several categories
such as first, second, third, and fourth generations based on the source of production.
There are several methods that are currently used for the production of biofuels by
utilization of several biomasses. The microorganisms such as microalgae,
cyanobacteria, and fungi play an important role in the production of biofuels.
These microorganisms provide suitable raw materials as well as involved bioconversion of biomass during production of biofuels. This chapter is focused on the brief
introduction of biofuels and role of microorganism in the biofuel production.
Keywords Biofuels · Classification of biofuels · Microalgae · Cyanobacteria ·
Bioconversion
V. Singh · V. Mishra (*)
School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
e-mail: vishal.bce@itbhu.ac.in
R. Tiwari
Department of Botany, Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
V. K. Chaturvedi
Centre of Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
N. Singh
Centre of Bioinformatics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Srivastava et al. (eds.), Bioenergy Research: Revisiting Latest Development,
Clean Energy Production Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4615-4_2
29
Microbiological Aspects of Bioenergy
Production: Recent Update and Future
Directions
Veer Singh, Ritesh Tiwari, Vivek Kumar Chaturvedi, Nidhi Singh, and
Vishal Mishra
Abstract Biofuels are considered as alternative of fossil fuels. Nowadays, conventional fuels like as petrol, diesel, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are the major
sources of energy. The sources of fossil fuels are limited on the Earth crust and will
be finished after a certain period of time. Biofuels like bioethanol, biomethanol,
biogas, biohydrogen, and biodiesel are derived from various types of biological
sources (plant, algae, microbial biomass) and considered as renewable sources of
energy. They are green energy sources and cost-effective and also considered
as alternative of fossil fuel in the future. They can be classified into several categories
such as first, second, third, and fourth generations based on the source of production.
There are several methods that are currently used for the production of biofuels by
utilization of several biomasses. The microorganisms such as microalgae,
cyanobacteria, and fungi play an important role in the production of biofuels.
These microorganisms provide suitable raw materials as well as involved bioconversion of biomass during production of biofuels. This chapter is focused on the brief
introduction of biofuels and role of microorganism in the biofuel production.
Keywords Biofuels · Classification of biofuels · Microalgae · Cyanobacteria ·
Bioconversion
V. Singh · V. Mishra (*)
School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
e-mail: vishal.bce@itbhu.ac.in
R. Tiwari
Department of Botany, Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
V. K. Chaturvedi
Centre of Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
N. Singh
Centre of Bioinformatics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Srivastava et al. (eds.), Bioenergy Research: Revisiting Latest Development,
Clean Energy Production Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4615-4_2
29