• The demand for biofuels is growing.Don Bishop/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Biofuels are fuels derived from natural sources or inorganic waste. Biofuel manufacturers are exploiting some pretty unusual resources as feed stocks for biofuel. Using high-tech methods, these enterprising companies are making fuel from algae, weeds and even recycled cooking grease.
  
  As humans become more aware of environmental issues and the risks of depleting non-renewable natural resources, demand increases for fuels from renewable resources that biofuel companies can exploit profitably.
  
  

Turning Waste into Fuel

• Maverick Biofuels can convert old tires into fuel.Lots old tire-covers, may be used as background image by Roman Sigaev from Fotolia.com
  
  Maverick Biofuels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, exploits second-generation biofuel technology to make less-expensive alternatives to gasoline and liquid petroleum gas fuels. The process used is called gasification, and it can make biofuel from a wide range of feed stocks.
  
  According to Maverick Biofuels, the process converts solid matter like non-edible plant matter, municipal waste and old tires or plastic into a synthetic gas. This is further processed to create mixed alcohol fuel and Bio-LPG gas fuel. The fuels produced are less expensive than ethanol and can replace the gasoline used in modern flex fuel vehicles.
  
  

A Scummy Solution

• Algae can produce large amounts of oil on less acreage than land-based fuel stocks.filamentous green alga structure image by Accent from Fotolia.com
  
  Making fuel from algae is one of the most promising new biofuel technologies because algae can produce a great deal of oil per acre. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, algae can yield up to 1,200 gallons of oil per acre. Corn used to make ethanol can only yield 18 gallons of oil per acre.
  
  Aurora Biofuels successfully concluded operations in its Florida pilot plant, and now plans to open a second facility. The company grows and processes microalgae to produce oils for biodiesel. According to Aurora Biofuels, the company uses a variety of algal strains and can deliver biodiesel for $55 per barrel.
  
  

Trashy Success Story

• Waste matter from paper mills can be made into ethanol.carton ?? recycler image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
  
  Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is home to a biofuel marvel. Firebright, LLC came to town and converted a corn ethanol manufacturing facility to make ethanol from organic waste material. Firebright uses an enzyme-based process to convert waste material from a local paper recycling plant into ethanol.
  
  International Paper's Cedar Rapids facility produces both cardboard from recycled paper and about 50,000 tons of organic waste each year. Instead of losing money getting rid of the waste as fertilizer, the waste is now sent to Firebright where it is converted into ethanol. According to Brighter Energy, the plant could produce up to six million gallons of ethanol per year.