石油および環境バイオテクノロジージャーナル

概要

Alternative Sources of Petrochemicals from Readily Available Biomass and Agro-Products in Africa: A Review

Ezeonu CS* and Ezeonu NC

The attention of most countries lately has been on improvement of existing goods and services. However, looking for alternative to whatever exists brings about novelty. Fossil fuel as a means of energy has been utilized for quite a long time that those who are progressive minded have begun to look for alternative sources. This is due to the fact that renewability of crude oil (current world source of energy) is uncertain. As a result the quest for bio-fuel in forms of bio-diesel, bio-gas and bio-ethanol seem to be the only hope to this impasse. Europe, Asia and America have since been at the forefront of research for alternative sources of energy. The place of Africa in this quest is unpredictable and uncertain. The surprising aspect of the whole issue is that Africa can boost of its potential to generate the resources utilizable for generation of alternative energy in form of oil seeds, agro-wastes and lignocelluloses more than other continents currently in the forefront of research into alternative energy. This review therefore, seeks to expose the resources available in African countries and how they are underutilized as well as what attempts have been made in Africa in the quest for alternative energy. It also brings to the forefront, details of basic techniques necessary in production of bio-fuel with the view that Africa as a player in bio-energy generation can do better than it is currently doing, if the leaders of the various African countries make it a priority.