Carlos A. Cardona is associate professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the National University of Colombia at Manizales since 1995. He received M. Sc. and Ph. D. degrees in chemical engineering from the Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology M. V. Lomonosov (Russian Federation). In addition, he has attended the especialization program in rheology at Moscow State University (Russian Federation) in 1994. From 1996 to 1997, he worked at the University of Caldas supporting a new program in food engineering. He has been twice awarded the research merit recognition by the National University of Colombia.

Dr. Cardona’s research focuses on process system engineering for biotechno­logical processes, process integration, separation technologies, thermodynamics, biofuels production, fermentation technology, and agro-industry. In particular, he has worked on different research projects concerning the chemical and biochemi­cal process design, biofuels research and development, economic and sustainable utilization of agro-industrial residues by biotechnological methods, and separation technologies development. He has authored or co-authored over 50 research papers as well as 5 research books and 14 book chapters. Additionally, he has edited two research books. He has presented over 100 works at scientific events. Dr. Cardona has been a visiting professor at several universities and research institutes abroad. Currently, he leads the research group in Chemical and Biochemical Processes Design at National University of Colombia at Manizales and coordinates the research area of biotechnology at the protechnology and agroindustry pilot plants at this university. In addition, he is a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) consultant in the field of technologies for sustainable bioenergy production.

Oscar J. Sanchez is associate professor of food engineering at the University of Caldas, Colombia. He received a chemical engineer­ing degree and M. Sc. degree in Biotechnology with the highest honors from the Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology M. V. Lomonosov (Russian Federation), and a Ph. D. degree with honors in engineering from the National University of Colombia at Manizales. From 1996 to 1997, he worked in the bever­age ethanol industry. He joined the faculty of engineering at the University of Caldas in 1997 where he coordinates the biotechnology course for food engineering students. In addition, he has taught biochemical engineering to chemical engineering students at the National University of Colombia at Manizales.

His research focuses on process systems engineering for biotechnological pro­cesses, biofuels production, industrial microbiology and fermentation technol­ogy, and enzyme technology. In particular, he has completed different research projects concerning the economic and sustainable utilization of agro-industrial residues by biotechnological methods. Dr. Sanchez has authored or co-authored over 15 research papers as well as 2 research books and 9 book chapters. He has presented over 20 works at scientific events. In 2005, Dr. Sanchez was awarded the Elizabeth Grose prize in the field of microbiology applied to the industry in the framework of the VII Latin American Congress of Food Microbiology. He was Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering of University College London in 2006. Currently, he co-leads the research group in foods and agro-industry at the University of Caldas and coordinates the research area of food biotechnology at the Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology of this university. In addition, he has been an FAO consultant in the field of technologies for sustainable production of fuel ethanol.

Luis F. Gutierrez received a chemical engi­neering degree from the National University of Colombia at Manizales, an M. Sc. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Valle (Colombia), and a Ph. D. degree with honors in engineering from the National University of Colombia at Manizales. From 2002 to 2003, he worked in the precious metal processing indus­try. His research focused on chemical thermo­dynamics, process integration, precious metals refining, alloy production, and computer-aided process design. In particular, he has worked on different research projects for the application of the thermodynamics to chemical processes, and analysis of biodiesel production technologies as well as equipment design for chemical and biochemical processes.

He has authored or co-authored over 6 research papers as well as 3 research books and 4 book chapters. He has given over 12 presentations in scientific events.

Dr. Gutierrez has held traineeships at Queen’s University (Canada) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He has been a research director of ITEMSA SA, a firm manufacturing chemical equipment. Currently, he is profes­sor in the Department of Engineering at the University of Caldas. In addition, he has been an FAO consultant in the field of technologies for sustainable production of biodiesel.

1 Biofuels

This chapter deals with the generalities of biofuels in the context of the current situation in the fossil fuels market. The importance of using alternative renew­able energy sources is highlighted and the main advantages of liquid biofuels are presented. The state of the global ethanol market is analyzed and the advantages and disadvantages of fuel ethanol are described.