Biobutanol: Towards Sustainable Green Environment

Abstract

The global energy demand is rapidly increasing due to the scarcity of natural petroleum fuel stock. The petroleum energy sources are the major sources of energy for the global community and it has huge demand all over the world. These energy sources are likely to be the most contributing sources to the national economy. Bio-butanol is the newest type of alternative biofuel which has the potential to replace conventional petroleum fuels as its properties are similar to conventional engine fuels. Biobutanol obtained via Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol fermentation process using anaerobic Clostridium bacteria. However, this process has limitations because a higher concentration of Bio-butanol inhibits solvent producing bacteria activity. Hence, the continuous extraction of bio-butanol is needed to increase microbial activity. The pervaporation, membrane solvent extraction gas stripping, adsorption, liquid-liquid extraction are various energy-intensive processes used for separation using toxic, volatile conventional solvents. Ionic liquids are green designer solvents to extract bio-butanol from fermentation broth using liquid-liquid extraction process. In the present paper, review about bio-butanol, its separation methods and also separation using novel ionic liquids as a prospective extractant has been discussed.