Feedstock for biofuel production: starch, oilseeds, lignocellulosic and algae-based, fuel logistics of biomass

The consumption of fossil fuels has grown rapidly due to the continuous rise in global populations, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth. As these fossil fuels are used extensively, and their rate of depletion is more than their replenishment, there has been an immediate mandate to find an alternative for these energy crises which is renewable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Biodiesel is one such alternate solution for diesel engines that satisfies the above criteria. The evolution of biodiesel is generally ordered into four generations. Some of the main reasons for the evolution of biodiesel generations are easy availability, economic feasibility, carbon-neutral economy, good crop yield, easy cultivation in dry and semi-dry areas, the outcome of food supply, and satisfactory yield of biodiesel, etc. A thorough assessment of a variety of feedstock's used for the generation of biodiesel is emphasized in this book chapter. Overall, the bio-diesel generated from algae-based feedstock's are highly profitable as they have high energy and oil content and cause limited pollution. Further, biodiesel obtained through synthetic biology would upgrade specifically physicochemical characteristics of biodiesel to bring about a net-zero carbon economy. Transesterification is the most appropriate process for the generation of biodiesel as it gives rise to a high yield of biodiesel which has properties similar to diesel.