Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States (2012)
Chapter: Appendix D: Glossary
|
Alcohol fuels |
Fuels that are organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl groups (-OH) attached to one or more of the carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain. Common alcohol fuels include ethanol, methanol, and butanol. |
|
Algae |
A group of aquatic eukaryotic organisms that contain chlorophyll. Algae can be microscopic in size (microalgae) or observable to the eye (macroalgae). |
|
Aliphatic alcohol |
An alcohol that contains a hydrocarbon fragment derived from a fully saturated, nonaromatic hydrocarbon. |
|
Anoxia |
The absence of dissolved oxygen. |
|
Biodiesel |
Diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters derived from biological material such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and algal oils. |
|
Biofuel |
Fuel derived from biological sources. |
|
Biomass |
Any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, algae, animal residues, municipal residues, and other residue materials. |
|
Biorefinery |
A commercial-scale processing facility that successfully integrates all processes for extracting and converting biomass feedstocks into a spectrum of saleable products. |
|
Carbon sequestration |
Net transfer of atmospheric carbon dioxide into long-lived carbon pools. |
|
Cellulose |
A polymer of glucose, (C6H10O5)n, that forms cell walls of most plants. |
|
Commercial demonstration |
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory defines a commercial demonstration for biofuel refinery as a facility that has the capacity to process 700 dry tons of feedstock per day. In addition, a commercial demonstration facility is a fully integrated facility that includes all processing steps at a scale sufficient to identify potential operational problems. |
|
Cyanobacteria |
Historically known as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria are prokaryotes that contain chlorophyll. |
|
Demonstration facility |
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory defines a demonstration facility for biofuel refinery as one that has the capacity to process 70 dry tons of feedstock per day. A true demonstration facility is a fully integrated facility that includes all of the processing steps that a commercial-scale facility would have. |
|
Drop-in fuel |
Non-petroleum fuel that is compatible with existing infrastructure for petroleum-based fuels. |
|
Green diesel |
Product of hydrotreated triaclyglycerols. |
|
Hemicellulose |
A matrix of polysaccharides present in almost all plant cell walls with cellulose. |
|
Hydrocarbon fuels |
Organic compounds that contains primarily carbon and hydrogen and only trace amounts of other atoms such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen. Hydrocarbon fuels include petroleum-based materials such as alkanes, olefins, and aromatics. |
|
Hypoxia |
Low dissolved oxygen concentrations, generally less than 2 milligrams per liter. |
|
Land use |
Defined by anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture, forestry and urban development, that alter land-surface processes including biogeochemistry, hydrology, and biodiversity. |
|
Lignin |
A complex polymer that occurs in certain plant cell walls. Lignin binds to cellulose fibers and hardens and strengthens the cell walls of plants. |
|
Lignocellulosic biomass |
Plant biomass composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. |
|
Pilot demonstration |
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory defines a pilot demonstration for biofuel refinery as a facility that has the capacity to process 1-10 dry tons of feedstock per day. These facilities typically do not include fully integrated processes. |
