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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Glossary." National Research Council. 2011. Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13105.
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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 biomass.
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, 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.
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Glossary." National Research Council. 2011. Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13105.
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Commercial demonstration The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 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 will be a fully integrated facility that includes all processing steps at a scale sufficient to identify potential operational problems.
Corn stover Corn stalks, leaves, and cobs that remain after the corn-grain is harvested.
Demonstration facility NREL 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 will be a fully integrated facility that includes all of the processing steps that a commercial-scale plant would have.
Drop-in fuel Nonpetroleum fuel that is compatible with existing infrastructure for petroleum-based fuels.
Feedstock Material that can be processed to make fuel, including grains, crop residues, forestry products, plant oils, animal fats, and municipal wastes.
Feedstuff Nutrient-rich material that can be incorporated into the diet of livestock or other animals.
Green diesel Hydrogenation product of triglycerides.
Hemicellulose A matrix of polysaccharides present in almost all plant cell walls with cellulose.
Hydrocarbon fuels Fuels that are 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 cover Land cover is the extent and type of physical and biological cover over the surface of land.
Land use Land use is 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 NREL 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.
Reid Vapor Pressure A measure of fuel volatility.
Stumpage A fee charged by a landowner to companies or operators for the right to harvest timber on that land.
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Glossary." National Research Council. 2011. Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13105.
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Page 301
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Glossary." National Research Council. 2011. Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13105.
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Page 302
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In the United States, we have come to depend on plentiful and inexpensive energy to support our economy and lifestyles. In recent years, many questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of our current pattern of high consumption of nonrenewable energy and its environmental consequences. Further, because the United States imports about 55 percent of the nation's consumption of crude oil, there are additional concerns about the security of supply. Hence, efforts are being made to find alternatives to our current pathway, including greater energy efficiency and use of energy sources that could lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as nuclear and renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. The United States has a long history with biofuels and the nation is on a course charted to achieve a substantial increase in biofuels.

Renewable Fuel Standard evaluates the economic and environmental consequences of increasing biofuels production as a result of Renewable Fuels Standard, as amended by EISA (RFS2). The report describes biofuels produced in 2010 and those projected to be produced and consumed by 2022, reviews model projections and other estimates of the relative impact on the prices of land, and discusses the potential environmental harm and benefits of biofuels production and the barriers to achieving the RFS2 consumption mandate.

Policy makers, investors, leaders in the transportation sector, and others with concerns for the environment, economy, and energy security can rely on the recommendations provided in this report.

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