As the name indicates, bio-fuels are fuels made from the decomposition of biological matter. Most bio-fuels are derived from plants. Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways: †Fossil fuels take millions of years to form where bio-fuels can be made extremely fast, some in a matter of days. †Fossil fuels generate lots of pollution. Bio-fuels are clean by comparison. †Bio-fuels are renewable unlike fossil fuels. Different types of bio-fuels Over the years, bio-fuels have been broken down into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation. First generation bio-fuels are made from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in derived from plants, mostly food-crops. First generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Second generation bio-fuels are mainly derived from waste, thus making it a more balanced option compared to first-generation bio-fuels. Different kinds of alcohols and diesel generated from wood fall into the category of second generation bio-fuels. Third generation bio-fuels are made from algae. Large scale algae farms have been built and are creating all types of fuel, from gasoline, diesel and even jet fuel. A jumbo jet recently flew using fuel created from algae. Algae based fuels are environmentally friendly and are biodegradable. Fourth generation bio-fuels are made from genetically engineered micro-organisms that use carbon dioxide to generate fuel. Advantages of bio-fuels Bio-fuels prove advantageous in the following ways: †Bio-fuels can reduce the burden on gradually-vanishing fossil fuels. †Bio-fuels are environmentally friendly. †Bio-fuels,particularly bio-diesel have been very cost-effective for consumers. Disadvantages of bio-fuels Bio-fuels are not without problems. †Making bio-fuel require many acres of farm land, replaceing land used to grow food, and may cause an increase in price, and a shortage of food.
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