Abstract
Today, the increase in population and the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels are the main sources of pollution, jeopardizing the environment and human health. The excessive burning of fossil fuels contributes to the increase in greenhouse gases, causing an environmental lack of control, with the above, the need arises to propose alternatives for the solution to this problem. Also, there is the concern of depletion of the nonrenewable resources such as oil and natural gas, for example. In this context, use has been made of biotechnology and its different processes through which biofuels can be generated. The need to develop methodologies that allow for the obtaining of biofuels with the purpose that in the long run, they substitute the aforementioned nonrenewable sources of energy which could result in lowering costs and stopping pollution. This chapter will address the generalities of various biofuels: biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel, bio-oils, vegetable oils, and biohydrogen. As well as the biotechnology-based approaches used to obtain them, with a sustainable approach and without risking the environment.
Just as fossil fuels from conventional sources are finite and becoming depleted, those from difficult sources will also run out. If we put all our energy and resources into continued fossil fuel extraction, we will have lost an opportunity to have invested in renewable energy.
David Suzuki (March 1936-)
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Cabrera, E.E., Patra, J.K., Rodriguez-Torres, M.d.P. (2023). Biotechnology and Its Connection to Renewable Energies: Biofuels Production. In: Rodriguez-Torres, M.d.P., Martinez-Alonso, C. (eds) Biotechnology in the generation of biofuels. Interdisciplinary Biotechnological Advances. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9187-5_2
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