u3 aos 1 Flashcards
coal
Coal is made up of carbon, oxygen, water and traces of other elements. Over millions of years, pressure, temperature, bacterial action and moisture changed organic matter into our coal reserves.
brown coal
However, brown coal is still a relatively ‘heavy polluter’, and pollution emissions are an environmental concern.
Victoria’s brown coal has a significant amount of water in it, and therefore less energy content (6–12 megajoules (MJ) per kilogram)
natural gas
Natural gas is formed with oil in muds that are low in oxygen and rich in organic matter (typically ancient marine organisms). Natural gas is the lightest of the hydrocarbons produced, and is primarily composed of methane (CH4).
petrol
Petrol, or gasoline, is a mixture of small hydrocarbons ranging from four to twelve carbon atoms per molecule, with five carbon atoms being the most common.
diesel
Diesel is a mixture of organic hydrocarbons ranging from 12–24 carbon atoms per molecule.
higher density and combusts more efficiently than petrol.
biogas
produced when animal waste or organic material rots in the absence of oxygen (livestock manure)
combustible fuels made of 65% methane
commonly used to power furnances, heater, engines and to generate electricity
biodiesel
made from plant and animal oils and fats
produced by reacting triglycerides with an alcohol
bioethanol
produced by fermentation of sugars from waste.
+ reduces some pollution emmissions
+ oxygen in environment combusts
- deegredation of plastic and rubber