UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

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ENGLISH FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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BIOFUEL NOMINATION

Student’s Name ID Number Class Class ID

Bui Minh Anh 22040364 22E16 ENG2072 6
Duong Khanh 22040313 22E11 ENG2072 6
Chi
Bui Tra My 22040044 22E21 ENG2072 6

Actual word count: 1960

December 07, 2023

I. Executive Summary

With the evolving future of technology, there are several nominations worthy of being
discussed, known and put into application. This technology mentioned in this essay, biofuel,
will bring a permanent solution to both environmental and food waste-related problems.

According to the research (Energy.gov, n.d.), biofuels are liquid fuels produced from
renewable biological sources, including plants and algae. Biofuels offer a solution to one of
the challenges of solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources. Biofuels offer a solution
not only to energy-related challenges but also present a viable option for addressing the issue
of food waste, scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory are converting food waste into clean, renewable fuel that could power our planes,
trains, and automobiles(Ashby, Ph.D. and Laboratory, 2021)

Fig. 1. The cycle of biofuel (Debanjan, 2022)

Biofuel energy created from food waste involves the conversion of organic materials, such as

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leftover food, agricultural residues, or kitchen scraps, into usable fuel sources. By utilizing
methods such as anaerobic digestion or fermentation, microorganisms decompose organic
materials, yielding gases such as methane or ethanol. This eco-friendly method not only
facilitates the effective disposal of food waste but also yields cleaner energy, lessening
dependence on fossil fuels.

Through this nomination, our goal is to support an improved resolution to address both food
waste and the challenges of climate change. Biofuel energy derived from organic waste,
particularly food scraps and agricultural residues, presents a multifaceted solution. At its
core, this sustainable practice not only curtails the environmental impact of traditional fuels
but also addresses the pressing issue of waste management. Given the current global situation
of substantial food waste, biofuel production becomes a crucial strategy for diverting organic
matter from landfills, where it contributes to harmful emissions. This transformative
approach mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and spearheads innovation in renewable energy
technology, offering an integrated solution to environmental, economic, and social
challenges. Our objective is to enhance awareness and promote the adoption of this
technology in Vietnam. Given its affordable price, Vietnam has the opportunity to import and
effectively utilize this technology.

II. Technical Description

The subject relating to renewable energy sources is the focus of our discussion.

Numerous institutions have contributed to the evolution of biofuel energy. The Department of
Energy (DOE) plays a significant role in the exploration of biofuel energy, with the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) serving as a notable contributor to biofuel
advancements. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) supports biofuels
through the field of agriculture. On a global scale, the International Energy Agency (IEA)
also participates in progressing research in renewable energy, including the exploration of
biofuels. Additionally, scholars from reputable institutions such as MIT and Stanford also
contribute innovative ideas to the field of biofuel technologies. In collective pursuit, these
organizations are actively shaping the landscape of biofuel research, contributing to the
realization of a more sustainable energy future.

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 Fig. 2. Machine diagram (How Does a Wood Pellet Machine Work?, n.d.)

Biofuel energy represents a remarkable combination of natural processes and human work,
harnessing the power of organic materials to fuel our energy needs sustainably. This energy is
generated primarily from plants and its process can be described through two types of
biofuels.

Bioethanol, one facet of this innovation, emerges from the bounty of crops like corn and
sugarcane. Through a precise process of fermentation, enzymes break down intricate sugars
into the elemental simplicity of glucose. Enter microorganisms, typically yeast, orchestrating
a transformative alchemy, converting glucose into ethanol and exhaling carbon dioxide as a
byproduct. Continuing the process, distillation separates and purifies the resultant bioethanol
to a degree of pristine clarity. This liquid is particularly effective in transportation, whether
blending with gasoline or, in its purest form as E85, creating specially designed flex-fuel
vehicles for a cleaner future, one without carbon dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, biodiesel, born from the oils of soybeans or canola, undertakes a journey of
transesterification. The triglycerides present in the oils undergo a chemical transformation,
engaging with alcohol, either methanol or ethanol. This process produces biodiesel and
results in the separation of glycerol. Subsequent purification ensures the production of
high-quality biodiesel. This renewable alternative helps adjust traditional diesel more
smoothly. Its versatility is evident in various blends such as B5 or B20, providing suitable
solutions to diverse energy requirements.

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Both bioethanol and biodiesel can be blended with conventional fossil fuels to create biofuel
blends that can be used in existing combustion engines.

III. Nomination

1. Background information

The Most Influential Scientific and Technological Achievement Proposal Award is an annual
event held by the Faculty of English Language Teaching Education to honour outstanding
innovation in the field of science and technology. This year, the biofuel machine won first
prize in the Breakthrough Invention of the Year category being worth 1.000.000.000 VNĐ.
There are two compelling reasons explaining this achievement. The biofuel machine
contributes to global food waste reduction by converting them into main ingredients for
generating clean and sustainable energy. Consequently, this eliminates the production and
consumption of fossil fuel which is a limited source of energy as well as a serious
endangerment to the environment and habitats.

2. Contributions

Biofuel is becoming popular globally since it is a clean and sustainable form of energy. In this
case, biofuel made of food waste also tackles an unsolved problem around the world. This
unconventional form of energy is believed to be produced on a large scale in the near future
as it not only curtails the emission of greenhouse gasses but also augments the usage of waste
materials that are major culprits of environmental pollution (Bhatia et al., 2023).

According to recent research, the usage of biofuel is beneficial to human health. This is due
to the fact that using biodiesel or biomethane do not release nitrogen oxide and acetaldehyde
into the air, reducing air pollution which causes life-threatening diseases for humans such as
asthma or lung cancer. Research conducted in Brazil indicates that the use of biofuel made of
sugarcane has positive impacts on local health (Medicine et al., 2014).

3. Reasons for nomination

a) Recognition and Appreciation

In the journey of turning food waste into biofuels, researchers around the world have made
grand efforts to develop this organic product. Their contributions have revolutionized the use
of energy paving the way to sustainable development. Therefore, this nomination is a way to

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honor their great dedication as well as promote the invention culture. For instance, our
nominee is Vaayu invented by Mr. Priyadarshan Sahasrabuddhe to convert organic waste to
clean fuel. The invention plays a pivotal role in raising awareness of utilizing waste
effectively and innovating products that have less impact on our environment in India. The
link to the nominee’s introduction is attached below.

Fig 3. Vaayu inventor - Mr. Priyadarshan Sahasrabuddhe (National Geographic India, 2022)

b) Establishing Standards of Excellence

Since a wealth of innovations has been established, it is essential to set the standards of
excellence to select the most worth-honoring works. Inventions that receive nominations and
awards often set benchmarks for excellence in their respective fields. This helps establish
standards that guide future innovators and encourage them to strive for high-quality and
impactful contributions. The information on Vaayu’s operational process, inputs, outputs, and
so on can be used as a reference by scientists and engineers in other places to set up similar
machines and based on it develop more advanced approaches in the future to tackle the
problem.

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 Fig 4. Methanogens (National Geographic India, 2022)

Fig 5. Vayuu structure (National Geographic India, 2022)

c) Networking and collaboration opportunities

Recognition through nominations can open doors to networking opportunities and

collaborations. It facilitates connections with other inventors, industry professionals, and
organizations that share common interests, fostering an environment of collaboration and
knowledge exchange. For example, at present, Mr Priyadarshan Sahasrabuddhe has worked
with safai karamcharis (public cleaners) in his area to collect kitchen waste to convert it into
biofuels. Once his innovator becomes well-known by being qualified for the award, he will

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receive collaboration invitations from leading organizations in the field. As a result, the
machine’s production can be extended reaching a larger group of potential users and
dedicating to the world sustainable development.

Fig 6. Safai karamcharis - Current partners (National Geographic India, 2022)

4. A specific example: Brazil

a) Introduction of Brazil

Covering a location of more than 8.3 million rectangular kilometers, Brazil is the world's
fifth-largest nation and the biggest country in South America (World Bank, 2021). As a
location prosperous in natural resources, Brazil is at the forefront of easily integrating
biofuels into its gas economy. It has the second-largest ethanol output in the world (La
Rovere et al., 2011) and is one of two international locations that have correctly used
bioethanol as an alternative energy source. However, whilst developed and developing
countries alike rely on fossil fuels to pressure financial growth, Brazil is the sole exception
that prioritises alternative energy sources, especially biofuels.

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 Fig 7. Land area - Brazil (World Bank, 2021)

b) Introduction of Pro-Acool

Launched in 1975, the Brazilian Alcohol Program (Pro-Acool) emerged in response to the
unstable sugar price and the surge in oil prices spurred by the 1973 crisis due to the Cold War
(La Rovere et al., 2011). The principal aim of the program was to reduce power consumption
without compromising financial growth by way of changing gasoline with ethanol made from
biomass, especially sugarcane, cassava, and sorghum (Da Silva & Chandel, 2014). Owing to
adaptability to the local weather and soil stipulations of Brazil, sugarcane has emerged as the
foremost feedstock used to produce ethanol (Soccol et al., 2005).

The first phase (1975 - 1980) of Pro-Acool, concentrated on mixing anhydrous alcohol with
gasoline, requiring an astounding five-thousand-fold increase in alcohol output (La Rovere et
al., 2011). However, this large-scale project necessitated a flexible approach to sugar and
alcohol content, enabling dynamic modifications based on these commodities' volatile prices.

During the second phase, the government continued to provide subsidies for capacity growth
and strategic investments in the establishment of factories. Collaborations between
automakers, universities, and institutes accelerated the creation of automobiles running solely
on ethanol fuel (Soccol et al., 2005). Eventually, the project's success made government
subsidies for manufacturers unnecessary (Da Silva & Chandel, 2014).

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 c) Impacts of Pro-Acool
● Economic aspect

Remarkable successes have been achieved by the Pro-Acool, especially in the fields of
national development and economics. Over 90% of new automobiles in Brazil are flex-fuel
vehicles, which can run on ethanol, according to data from the 2014 book "Biofuels in
Brazil" written by Da Silva and Chandel (2014).

There are three compelling reasons for the positive causal association between ethanol usage
and economic growth. Firstly, Brazil's efforts to support the manufacture of ethanol, a
biofuel, have directly boosted economic growth initiatives. It witnessed a more than 300%
increase in the energy use of biofuel ethanol leading to the 30% growth in real GDP between
1980 and 2012. Secondly, the biofuels introduction has prompted a structural change in the
Brazilian economy making it more adaptable to climate change by directing the country's
attention from agriculture to industry and the energy sector toward sustainable growth.
Thirdly, Pro-Acool has been crucial in supporting the Brazilian economy by allowing this
nation to save almost $75 billion in import costs, foreign exchange reserves, and foreign loan
interest payments (Al‐mulali et al., 2016; Da Silva & Chandel, 2014).

● Social aspect
Beyond providing considerable economic advantages, the consumption of biofuels has had
favorable social effects on Brazilian society. With an investment of $228.3 million producing
over 1.3 million new job opportunities, the biofuels industry has significantly boosted job
creation (Soccol et al., 2005). The phenomenon has helped to stabilize the price of
agricultural land and significantly raise the standard of living for labourers in the agricultural
sector. Thousands of families in Brazil's Northeast and Northern regions, now have access to
housing, power, water, and vital infrastructure thanks to this development. Furthermore,
switching from fossil fuels to biofuel energy has decreased the cost of food production while
providing the cattle industry with additional food supplies made from biodiesel byproducts
(Soccol et al., 2005).
● Environmental aspect
Transport by road and metropolitan areas that use biofuel energy have a positive impact on
the environment. Compared to the combustion of fossil fuels, the emission of pollution from
the burning of biofuels is extensively lower, and plants could naturally reabsorb these

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pollutants. With the use of biofuels, smoke emissions have dropped by a remarkable 90%,
and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have virtually vanished in Brazil (Soccol et al., 2005).

As evident, biofuel has demonstrated significant efficacy in addressing prevailing issues, a

fact substantiated by its successful implementation in numerous countries. The considerable
promise it holds suggests that its application should be seriously considered and nominated
for adoption in Vietnam.

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 REFERENCE

Al‐mulali, U., Solarin, S. A., & Öztürk, İ. (2016). Biofuel energy consumption‐economic

growth relationship: an empirical investigation of Brazil. Biofuels, Bioproducts and

Biorefining, 10(6), 753–775. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1675

Bhatia, L., Jha, H., Sarkar, T., & Sarangi, P. K. (2023). Food Waste Utilization for Reducing

Carbon Footprints towards Sustainable and Cleaner Environment: A Review.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2318.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032318

Da Silva, S. S., & Chandel, A. K. (2014). Biofuels in Brazil: Fundamental Aspects, Recent

Developments, and Future Perspectives. Springer Science & Business Media.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05020-1

Debanjan, B. (2022, August 26). Biofuels market size predicted to increase at a positive

CAGR of 7.0% by 2030 | Emergen Research. TechBullion.

https://techbullion.com/biofuels-market-size-predicted-to-increase-at-a-positive-cagr-

of-7-0-by-2030-emergen-research/

How does a wood pellet machine work? (n.d.).

http://www.pellet-making.com/blog/how-does-a-pellet-mill-work.html

La Rovere, E. L., Pereira, A., & Simões, A. F. (2011). Biofuels and sustainable energy

development in Brazil. World Development, 39(6), 1026–1036.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.01.004

National Geographic India. (2022, June 30). Organic Waste to Biofuel | Priyadarshan

Sahasrabuddhe | #OneForChange [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWAD9b0DHuc

Soccol, C. R. (2005, November 1). Brazilian biofuel program: An overview.

http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/5385

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The nexus of biofuels, climate change, and human health. (2014). In National Academies

Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17226/18493

World Bank Open Data. (2021). World Bank Open Data.

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.TOTL.K2?locations=BR&view=map

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