Biofuels: Understanding Conventional Production Methods

In the same way that crude oil is refined to produce fuels, plastics and numerous chemical products, plant biomass can be converted into a wide variety of products ranging from biofuels to high value‑added molecules used in "green chemistry". Extremely active research efforts worldwide are ensuring regular progress.

Once hailed as "green fuels", the first industrial-scale biofuels have come under scrutiny as people question the true amount of energy used in their production and their impact on food crops.

Biomass, like crude oil, can be refined to obtain a wide range of products. While the best known example is biofuel, other examples include lubricants, plastics, fertilizers, cosmetics and drugs. Here we take a closer look at "green chemistry" in action.