BIOKRAFTSTOFFE FR ANFNGER

Prof. Dr. Marc J.J. Janssens

Mit Dank an:

Prof. Dr. Juergen Pohlan

Dr. Dr. Norbert Keutgen
Dr. Ralf Pude

University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and

Resource Conservation (INRES), Germany

Decision paths leading to bio-energy

Crop residues,
e.g. sugar cane bagasse,
sugar beet molasse

Crop seed,
e.g. rape seed,
cereals,
soybean

Protein

Food

Non-food
(lipids / terpens)

Low
Feeding
NO !!!

Whole plant biomass,

e.g. sugar cane,
Euphorbia tirucalli,
Salix (coppicing),
Eucalypt (coppicing)

Energy
efficiency

Industrial
bio-fermentation

High
YES !!!

1. Photosynthesis and
efficiency of plant growth

6H2O + 6CO2

, Nutrients

Light

C6H12O6+ 6O2

Contents
1. Photosynthesis and efficiency of plant growth
2. Bio-productivity of selected crops
3. Energy concentration of plant components

Fragen?
Wie innovativ sind wir? Ersetzen wir nur gngige, sich
verteuernde Energiequellen?
Welche Produkte und Verfahren knnten sich ohne
Subventionen durchsetzen?
Wie lassen sich Agrar-Treibstoffe mit konventionellen
Kraftstoffen vergleichen

The efficiency of plant photosynthesis (ECO2)

As a first
approximation, a plant
canopy may be
described as a cone, the
volume of which is
given by
Cvol prop. (rc2 x hc)/3
The efficiency of crown
photosynthesis (ECO2) is
proportional to rc and hc.
ECO2 prop. (rc2 x hc)

Fig.: Abbreviations used for

the calculation of
crown-volume (Cvol)

Worthy of note
heco = hstem + hc

The efficiency of plant growth (Egr)

Egr prop. Vbio x hc / heco
- The ratio hc / heco is at maximum, if hc = heco.

- In consequence, the
optimal above-ground
morphotype of a plant
is a bushy appearance.
- The same relationship is
in principle valid for
ecosystems.
Ziziphus spina-christi
(Wild jojoba)
(Rhamnaceae)

Consequences of the ratio hc/heco for bio-energy yield:

From a practical point of view
- either the entire plant should be used for
generation of energy.
- or the harvested portion of the plant should be
small in volume and, as a consequence, should
contain a high concentration of energy per
volume (e.g. nuts, seeds).
Both strategies are realized
Third option ?
- Generating energy by fetching energy from
cheap agricultural by-products or waste
products from whatever crop.

Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) = c. 10 000 000 MJ/ ha per vegetation period

Effective Quantum Yield of the photosystem: c. 30 60 %

i.e. 3 000 000 6 000 000 MJ / ha

Incorporation into Bio-volume (Vbio)

(Typical values range from 110 000 370 000 MJ / ha)

Percentage of Effective Quantum Yield: 4 6 %

are incorporated into plant biomass;
i.e. c. 94 96 % are lost during plant metabolism

Energy dilution
Main harvest component

Energy Output:
c. 60 % (66 000 222 000 MJ / ha)

By-product

Energy Output:
c. 40 % (44 000 148 000 MJ / ha)

Output / PAR c. 0.007 to 0.022

Output / PAR c. 0.004 to 0.015

Fig.: Flow-diagram of the conversion of light energy into

bio-energy (example: Germany).

Rubber-like Polymers/ Polyisoprenes

Hevea brasiliensis
(Euphorbiaceae)
A rain forest tree native to the
Amazon Basin; the main source
of natural rubber. About 90% of all
natural rubber comes from the
latex sap of this species.

Palaquium gutta
(Sapotaceae)
It is a tropical tree native to
southeast Asia and northern
Austalasia.

Rubber-like Polymers/ Polyisoprenes

A native shrub of Mexico and
the southwestern United
States called guayule
pronounced 'why-YOU-lee
contains a latex sap with
polyterpenes similar to those
found in Hevea rubber. It is a
potentially good source of
natural rubber, possibly grown
on large plantations in arid
desert regions.

Parthenium argentatum
(Asteraceae)

Rubber-like Polymers
Euphorbia tirucalli
(Pencil Euphorb)
(Euphorbiaceae)
This crop grows well under
semi-arid conditions even
on marginal soils, and is
widely found in Africa and in
North-East Brazil.
Preliminary trials were
organized in Kenya with this
crop by compressing
biomass into briquette as a
fuel wood for kitchen use in
urban areas. E. tirucalli
combines high drought,
salinity stress tolerance and
low-input requirements

Ricinus communis

Jatropha curcas in Laos

Pruning for better flowering/fruitset

(Source Pohlan)

Sugarcane
A success story based on Bio-ethanol, the
wrong bio-fuel for the future

The relation between eco-volume and bio-productivity is illustrated

by results of a six-year study with sugar cane in Chiapas, Mexico

Green cane

Burn 1x

Burn 2x

2. Energy concentration of plant components

Table: Energy content & biosynthesis costs (in g glucose) of plant components

Component

Energy g glucose / Transport

Minimum
content g product g glucose / energy costs
(kJ / g)
g product (kJ/g product)

Lipid

38.9

3.030

0.159

49.4

Lignin

26.4

2.119

0.112

34.6

Protein
-Glycine (AA)

23.0
8.7

1.824

0.096

29.8

0.906

0.048

14.8

1.211

0.064

19.8

Organic acids
-Oxalic acid
-Malic acid
-Pyruvic acid
Other carbohydrates
-Terpens
-Polyglucan
-Glucose

2.9
10.0
13.2
46.9
17.6
15.5
AA = Amino acid

Table: Estimates of eco-volume and bio-volume in Mexico, Chiapas,

Huixtla (average of 6 years; source: data from Janssens, 2005).

CULTURE BETTERAVIERE DANS LE

GHARB: BESOINS ENERGETIQUES/ha
t r a nspor t

ha r v e st

17 . 2 %

i r r i ga t i on 0 . 2 %
10 . 3 %
c ul t i v a t i on

se e d be d pr e pa r a t i on

4 . 1%
pl a nt i ng

14 . 4 %

3,3%

f e r t i l i z a t i on
50.6%

TOTAL INTRANTS ENERGETIQUES: 33 792 Mj/ha

DIAGNOSTIC ENVIRONNEMENTAL
Durabilit des systmes de production?

EAU :

AIR :

Utilisation

Emissions G.E.S

Pollution

Et autres polluants

PRODUCTION SUCRIERE
Betterave Canne
CULTURE :

34

TRANSFORM.: 174

B/C

42 GJ/ha

0.8

28 GJ/ha

6.3

SOL :
Utilisation
Degradation

4. Bio-productivity of selected crops

- The energy input is the sum of energy required

for seed material, nutrient supply, pesticide
application, harvest, drying processes, fuel,
electricity, buildings, etc.
- The Output / Input ratio (O/I) is the
relationship of the energy yield of the main
yield component divided by the energy
input.

EnergieBerechnung

Quelle: Pude

MISCANTHUS

Quelle: Pude

Quelle: Pude

Quelle: Pude

Quelle: Pude

Solarsysteme
mit Holzheizung

Solarsysteme mit Holzheizung

Petrobras opens second

biodiesel plant (27th August, 2008)
Petrobras has opened its 2nd commercial
biodiesel production plant in Quixad (CE)
Brazil.
A 1st plant is already functional in Candeias
(Bahia). A 3rd plant, located in Montes Claros
(Minas Gerais), is in its final construction stage.
These biodiesel plants can run on castor seeds,
sunflower seeds, soyabeans, cotton and cattle,
swine or chicken fat, in addition to residual oils
and fat used originally to fry food.
Each plant will produce 57 mio L of biodiesel/y

RAPS

Quelle: Pude

Quelle: Pude

Quelle: Pude

Table: Production efficiency rates of selected crops

(after Diepenbrock, 1995 and Pimentel, 1980)
Country

Total input
MJ/ha

Total output
MJ/ha

Output/
Input

MJ Output/
Labor hour

Pecan (C3)

Texas

4314

2668

0.62

201

Almond (C3)

California

57505

44874

0.78

Grape (wine) (C3)

California;
irrigated

63936

63943

1.00

592

Sugar beet (C3)

UK
Taiwan,
South

124324

141487

1.14

2830

69761

95809

1.37

31

Apricot (C3)

California;
irrigated

26061

44018

1.69

Soybean (C3)

US, Georgia

15247

28012

1.84

1286

Sugar cane (C4)

US, Louisiana

40380

73182

2.18

2439

Grapefruit (C3)

US

31628

93348

2.96

510

Sorghum (C4)

US, Texas;
rain-fed

7087

22571

3.18

2482

Rice (C3)

Philippines

11713

39938

3.41

49

Rapeseed (C3)

Germany

22754

93401

4.10

Barley (C3)

Germany

26319

117543

4.47

Corn (C4)

US, Illinois

25669

116726

4.55

14813

Wheat (C3)

Germany

28570

133283

4.66

Banana (C3)

Table: Effects of latitude and cultivation practice on energy

efficiency of selected crops (after Pimentel, 1980)
Country

Total input
MJ/ha

Total output
MJ/ha

Output/
Input

MJ Output/
Labor hour

Banana

Australia NSW

81190

52241

0.64

87

Banana

Hawaii

77760

63849

0.82

160

Banana

Taiwan, Central

58477

55143

0.94

22

Banana

Taiwan, South

69761

95809

1.37

31

Sugar beet

US, Minnesota

177486

100883

0.57

3162

Sugar beet

US, California

305159

214742

0.70

5765

Sugar beet

Germany (2 horses)

135626

141905

1.05

163

Sugar beet

UK

124324

141487

1.14

2830

Corn

US, Texas

145164

113733

0.78

4852

Corn

US, California

30209

106756

3.53

3411

Corn

Mexico, oxen

3226

13708

4.25

36

Corn

US, Illinois

25669

116726

4.55

14813

Corn

Mexico, hand

221

28319

128.2

25

Sorghum

Nigeria, draft animals

11131

10285

0.92

88

Sorghum

US, Texas, irrigation

46444

72384

1.56

3977

Sorghum

US, Texas, rain-fed

7087

22571

3.18

2482

Sorghum

Sudan, hand

332

12357

37.27

52

350
300
GJ/ha

250
200

By-component

150

Main component

100
50

W
O
a
in
te t
W
rr
in
te
y
rb e
W
in arl
e
te
rw y
he
at
Co Co
rn
rn
s
Su ila
ga ge
rb
ea
t

W
in

te
rr
ap
e
Po
ta
to

Fig.: Energy contents of the main harvest- and by-components

in winter rape, potato, oat, winter rye, winter barley,
winter wheat, corn, corn silage and sugar beet (after
Diepenbrock, 1995).

Decision paths leading to bioenergy

Whole plant biomass,
Crop residues,
Crop seed,

Protein

Food

Non-food
(lipids / terpens)

Low
Feeding
NO !!!

e.g. sugar cane,

Euphorbia tirucalli,
Salix (coppicing),
eucalypt (coppicing)

e.g. sugar cane bagasse,

sugar beet molasse

e.g. rape seed,

cereals,
soybean

Energy
efficiency

Industrial
bio-fermentation

High
YES !!!

Myths vs./ Facts

for discussion!
MYTH #1 : Brazilian sugarcane ethanol leads to the
deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest
MYTH #2: Sugarcane expansion displaces other
agricultural activities into the Rainforest
MYTH #3: Brazil is being overrun by sugarcane
plantations in detriment of food production and prices
MYTH #4: Ethanol production and use cause more
damage to the environment than fossil fuels
MYTH #5: Ethanol production consumes more energy
than it generates 9.3:1 (fossil!!!)
MYTH #6: Gasoline prices are not reduced by the use
of ethanol
MYTH #7: Sugarcane ethanol is a unique solution from
which only Brazil can benefit

Properties of common fuels

Airfuel
ratio

Specific
energy
MJ/kg air

Heat of
vaporizat
MON
ion
MJ/kg

Fuel

Energy
density
MJ/L

Gasoline

32

14.6

2.9

0.36

8189

Butanol

29.2

11.2

3.2

0.43

78

Ethanol

19.6

9.0

3.0

0.92

96

Methanol

16

6.5

3.1

1.2

104

Source: Wikipedia
Butanol production from biomass could be more efficient (i.e. unit engine motive power
delivered per unit solar energy consumed) than ethanol or methanol routes. Also, the
bacterium producing butanol is able to digest cellulose, not just starch and sugars.

Quelle: Pude

Euphorbia tirucalli

Jatropha