CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Which of the following best describes a fuel crop?
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What is a LIHD biofuel?
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Which of the following produces the most oil per hectare of crop?
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How do plants sequester carbon?
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Compared to gasoline, which of the following produces the smallest amount of greenhouse gases?
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Direct sources of biomass energy include wood, corn stalks, grass bales, and _______.
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WORK WITH IDEAS
Describe the environmental issues associated with biofuels. Include issues specifically related to the use of corn.
You are an investor looking to get into the biofuels market, and you plan to choose one source for generating biofuel. Based on the information in this chapter, which source would you choose and why?
List and describe the current sources of fuel (both direct and indirect) that come from biomass. Include in your description the sources of biofuel and the feasibility of producing large quantities of biofuel from these sources (to the best of our knowledge at the present time).
Compare and contrast corn and switchgrass as sources of biofuels. What are the benefits of each? What are the costs?
Describe the process of biodiesel production using leftover restaurant oil. Is this possible on a small scale?
Explain, in your own words, why biofuels (especially cellulose and algae) have not replaced fossil fuels.