ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes new advances and opportunities of nanotechnology to produce commercially viable biofuel. It also examines the anticipated challenges related to nanotechnology for human and environmental safety. Technical advances of nanotechnology in the biofuel sector has lead to the production of more efficient, economically cheaper and environment-friendly energy production which has resulted in commercially competitive biofuel within existing forms. Currently, the application of nanotechnology in the biofuel industry mainly focuses on reducing the transportation cost of feedstock, breaking down the feedstock more efficiently and improving biofuel production efficiency. Carbon-based nanocatalysts such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, etc., have also shown to hold great potentials for biofuel production from a wide range of feedstocks, especially from non-food ones. Nanotechnologies have significant potential to improve the biofuel production rate by enhancing reaction kinetics and may eventually reduce the production cost due to savings in material cost and processing time.
