Sea Water as A Tool to Reduce Biofuel’s Thirst for Water

Abstract

The problems of depletion of fossil fuel resources due to large scale production of chemicals and biofuels in future are expected to be solved by lignocellulosic biorefinery approach. Systems are being developed for the production of value-added chemicals including biofuels from lignocellulosic waste materials with improved ecological footprints. The large-scale operation of these systems would be resulting in the huge consumption of fresh water (1.9 – 5.9 m3 water per m3 of biofuel). Fresh water consumption for the production of biofuel cannot be a sustainable approach due to the worldwide threats of depletion of fresh water resources. Several research groups have reported the use of enzymatic and chemocatalytic applications using sea water as a reaction medium for large-scale biorefineries. Many of those reports concluded that the use of such nonpotable water system in highly promising and hence the opportunities at the interface between biology and chemistry are predictable for holistic innovation and further research. The recent National Water Policy of India strongly advocated the implementation of new technology to minimize the fresh water consumption in industries. This critical situation warrants the design and development of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable practices for accomplishing sustainability in the global fine and specialty chemicals industry..