Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 108-117 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 108 Systematic Review Open Access Agricultural Sources of Biofuels: Selection and Optimization of Energy Crops Wenzhong Huang Biomass Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resouces, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: wenzhong.huang@hitar.org Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0011 Received: 21 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 27 Mar., 2024 Published: 08 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Huang W.Z., 2024, Agricultural sources of biofuels: selection and optimization of energy crops, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(2): 108-117 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0011) Abstract The increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources has led to significant research into biofuels derived from agricultural sources. This study explores the selection and optimization of energy crops for biofuel production, focusing on their environmental impact, economic viability, and potential for large-scale implementation. Various energy crops, including first-generation food crops like corn and sugarcane, second-generation lignocellulosic biomass, and third-generation microalgae, are evaluated for their efficiency in biofuel production. The review highlights the advantages of using non-food crops such as Miscanthus, switchgrass, and sweet sorghum, which can grow on marginal lands and have high biomass yields. Additionally, the environmental benefits of using perennial grasses and short-rotation woody crops for soil improvement and carbon sequestration are discussed. The study also addresses the challenges associated with biofuel production, such as land use changes, carbon debt, and the need for advanced technologies to enhance yield and sustainability. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future prospects of agricultural biofuels, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate energy crops and optimizing their cultivation to meet global energy demands sustainably. Keywords Biofuels; Energy crops; Biomass; Sustainability; Carbon sequestration 1 Introduction The increasing demand for energy, coupled with the environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption, has driven the search for sustainable and renewable energy sources. Biofuels, derived from biological materials, have emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels. They offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change, and provide a renewable source of energy. Biofuels can be produced from various feedstocks, including agricultural residues, energy crops, and microalgae, each presenting unique advantages and challenges (Demirbaş, 2009; Rodionova et al., 2017; Ambaye et al., 2021). Biofuels are categorized into different generations based on their feedstock sources and production processes. First-generation biofuels are derived from food crops, such as corn and sugarcane, which has raised concerns about food security and land use (Femeena et al., 2018; Callegari et al., 2020). Second-generation biofuels utilize non-food biomass, including agricultural residues and dedicated energy crops like Miscanthus and switchgrass, which offer higher biomass yields and lower environmental impacts (Heaton et al., 2008; Kiran et al., 2014). Third-generation biofuels, produced from microalgae, present a high potential for sustainable energy production due to their rapid growth rates and high oil content (Rodionova et al., 2017; Callegari et al., 2020). The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the selection and optimization of agricultural sources for biofuel production. This study aims to assess the potential of various energy crops and agricultural residues for biofuel production, analyze the environmental and economic impacts of using different feedstocks. Identify the technological advancements and challenges in biofuel production from agricultural sources. And provide recommendations for optimizing the use of energy crops to enhance biofuel yield and sustainability. This study encompasses a comprehensive analysis of recent research on biofuel production from agricultural sources. The scope includes first-, second-, and third-generation biofuels, with a focus on energy crops and agricultural residues. The methodology involves a systematic examination of peer-reviewed articles. Evaluation of various energy crops and agricultural residues, including their biomass yield, growth conditions, and suitability for
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