Biofuel facts for kids

Pure ethanol (left) and gasoline (right) at a fuel station in Brazil.

Biofuel is a special type of fuel that comes from plants or animals that have recently died or are still alive. Think of it as a natural energy source! This is different from fossil fuels like oil or coal, which come from very old plants and animals buried deep underground for millions of years. Biofuels can be solid, liquid, or gas. They are a renewable energy source, meaning they can be replaced naturally over time. This makes them a good alternative to fossil fuels, which are limited.

Biofuels are often used to power cars, heat homes, and for cooking. Many companies that make biofuels are found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Scientists are even finding ways to turn pollution into useful biofuel! Some biofuels, called agrofuels, are made from specific plants grown just for fuel. Other biofuels come from waste materials, like garbage from a landfill or recycled stuff.

How Biofuels Are Made

There are two main ways to turn plants into liquid or gas fuels.

Turning Plants into Ethanol

One way is to grow crops that have a lot of sugar, like sugar cane, or a lot of starch, like corn. These plants are then processed using yeast to make a type of alcohol called ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol. Ethanol can be used as a fuel, often mixed with gasoline.

Turning Plants into Biodiesel

The second way is to grow plants that are rich in vegetable oil. Examples include palm oil, soybean, and algae. When these oils are heated, they become thinner and can be burned directly in a diesel engine. They can also be chemically changed to create fuels like biodiesel.

Other Biofuel Sources

Wood and its leftover parts can also be turned into biofuels. These include charcoal, woodgas, methanol, or ethanol fuel. It's also possible to make something called cellulosic ethanol from parts of plants that we don't eat, like stalks or leaves. However, making this type of biofuel can be quite expensive right now.

Solid Biofuels

Besides liquids and gases, solid biomass is also used for energy. Firewood has been a source of heat and cooking fuel for thousands of years. Many materials, like wood and grasses, can be dried and pressed into small pellets. These pellets can then be burned to produce heat or electricity.

Images for kids

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  A sample of biodiesel

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  Biogas

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  Biofuel pumps

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  This truck runs on biofuel made from reclaimed cooking grease from Walmart stores.

See also

In Spanish: Biocarburante para niños