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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215299

Title: Bioenergy and biofuels from soybeans

Author
item VAN GERPEN, JOHN - University Of Idaho
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2007
Publication Date: 10/1/2008
Citation: Gerpen, J.V., Knothe, G.H. 2008. Bioenergy and biofuels from soybeans. In: Johnson, L.A., White, P.J., Galloway, R., editors. Soybeans: Chemistry, Production Processing, and Utilization. Chapter 16. Urbana, IL: AOCS Press. p. 499-538.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vegetable oils and animal fats provide some of nature’s most concentrated sources of energy. Plants and animals utilize this energy through metabolic process but non-food uses for these materials focus on combustion to produce heat or work. Historically, food uses have kept the price of soybean oil high enough that it was not economical for use as a fuel even when rendered fats and greases were viable alternatives to petroleum. Higher petroleum prices and government incentives have produced conditions where soybean oil can be used as fuel, usually in the form of biodiesel.