Microbial Biofuels: An Economic and Eco-Friendly Approach

Abstract

Biofuels in recent years have turned out as an environment friendly and cost-effective approach to sustain the rising demand of energy for the growing population. Development of efficient methods for biofuel production using plants and microbes has gained considerable attention. Thus, a different generation of biofuels, i.e. first generation, second generation, third generation, fourth generation, and currently next generation of biofuels has evolved. Each generation overcame the limitations of the earlier generation and differs basically in the substrate being used for the production. For efficient biofuel production researchers and companies have evolved various methods and compositions and acquired respective patents. Also, machineries involved in biofuel production have evolved over time at the laboratory as well as the industrial level. Different countries have formulated various policies and laws to encourage the use of these renewable sources of fuels to overcome the problem of pollution. This chapter encompasses all these aspects related to biofuels with special emphasis on biofuel production utilizing microbes.