2.6 Conclusion
Biofuels are considered as a clean and cost-effective source of energy. They are
produced from various sources such as algae, plants, and bacterial biomass. They
can also be derived from edible or non-edible oil and agricultural waste. The limited
sources of fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel, and LPG are present on Earth crust and
may be finished after a certain period. Hence, it is very needful to develop a suitable
and renewable source of energy which can replace the requirement of fossil fuels.
Biofuels are considered as renewable sources because they are derived from renewable biological source. They are also considered as an eco-friendly energy source.
Based on the raw materials used for their production, biofuels are classified into
several classes such as first, second, third, and fourth generations. There are several
types of biofuels such as biohydrogen, biogas, bioethanol, and biodiesel produced
from various sources such as microalgae, fungal biomass, and several bacterial
species. Biomass digestion or biomass conversion is an important method, and it
can be done using several biomass conversion approaches. Biomass can be
converted using physical, chemical, and biological methods. Biological approaches
of biomass conversion are considered as an effective and eco-friendly method.
Microbial species such as fungal and bacterial produce extracellular enzymes, and
these extracellular enzymes have an emerging role in the digestion of lignocellulosic
materials. Microbial system also has the ability to produce electricity through
microbial fuel cells. Hydrogen ions generated in the metabolic reaction of microbial
cells are involved in the electricity generation. Based on the current research, the
authors have concluded that microorganisms have an emerging application in the
biofuel production.
Acknowledgments The authors are thankful to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BHU,
Varanasi, for providing Internet facility, working place, and instrumentation facilities for this
research work.
References
Abdelaziz AE, Leite GB, Hallenbeck PC (2013) Addressing the challenges for sustainable production of algal biofuels: I. algal strains and nutrient supply. Environ Technol 34:1783–1805
Abdullah B, Muhammad SAFS, Shokravi Z et al (2019) Fourth generation biofuel: a review on
risks and mitigation strategies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 107:37–50
Alam F, Mobin S, Chowdhury H (2015) Third generation biofuel from algae. Procedia Eng
105:763–768
Allakhverdiev SI, Kreslavski VD, Thavasi V, Zharmukhamedov SK, Klimov VV, Nagata T et al
(2009) Hydrogen photoproduction by use of photosynthetic organisms and biomimetic systems.
Photochem Photobiol Sci 8:148–156
Anemaet IG, Bekker M, Hellingwerf KJ (2010) Algal photosynthesis as the primary driver for a
sustainable development in energy, feed, and food production. Mar Biotechnol
(NY) 12:619–629
2 Microbiological Aspects of Bioenergy Production: Recent Update and Future. . .
45
Biofuels are considered as a clean and cost-effective source of energy. They are
produced from various sources such as algae, plants, and bacterial biomass. They
can also be derived from edible or non-edible oil and agricultural waste. The limited
sources of fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel, and LPG are present on Earth crust and
may be finished after a certain period. Hence, it is very needful to develop a suitable
and renewable source of energy which can replace the requirement of fossil fuels.
Biofuels are considered as renewable sources because they are derived from renewable biological source. They are also considered as an eco-friendly energy source.
Based on the raw materials used for their production, biofuels are classified into
several classes such as first, second, third, and fourth generations. There are several
types of biofuels such as biohydrogen, biogas, bioethanol, and biodiesel produced
from various sources such as microalgae, fungal biomass, and several bacterial
species. Biomass digestion or biomass conversion is an important method, and it
can be done using several biomass conversion approaches. Biomass can be
converted using physical, chemical, and biological methods. Biological approaches
of biomass conversion are considered as an effective and eco-friendly method.
Microbial species such as fungal and bacterial produce extracellular enzymes, and
these extracellular enzymes have an emerging role in the digestion of lignocellulosic
materials. Microbial system also has the ability to produce electricity through
microbial fuel cells. Hydrogen ions generated in the metabolic reaction of microbial
cells are involved in the electricity generation. Based on the current research, the
authors have concluded that microorganisms have an emerging application in the
biofuel production.
Acknowledgments The authors are thankful to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BHU,
Varanasi, for providing Internet facility, working place, and instrumentation facilities for this
research work.
References
Abdelaziz AE, Leite GB, Hallenbeck PC (2013) Addressing the challenges for sustainable production of algal biofuels: I. algal strains and nutrient supply. Environ Technol 34:1783–1805
Abdullah B, Muhammad SAFS, Shokravi Z et al (2019) Fourth generation biofuel: a review on
risks and mitigation strategies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 107:37–50
Alam F, Mobin S, Chowdhury H (2015) Third generation biofuel from algae. Procedia Eng
105:763–768
Allakhverdiev SI, Kreslavski VD, Thavasi V, Zharmukhamedov SK, Klimov VV, Nagata T et al
(2009) Hydrogen photoproduction by use of photosynthetic organisms and biomimetic systems.
Photochem Photobiol Sci 8:148–156
Anemaet IG, Bekker M, Hellingwerf KJ (2010) Algal photosynthesis as the primary driver for a
sustainable development in energy, feed, and food production. Mar Biotechnol
(NY) 12:619–629
2 Microbiological Aspects of Bioenergy Production: Recent Update and Future. . .
45