Toward a Circular Nanotechnology for Biofuels: Integrating Sustainable Synthesis, Recovery, and Performance Optimization
This review exhaustively evaluates the role of nanomaterials across the synthesis, characterization and application stages of biofuel systems. Common types of nanomaterials that are used for biofuel applications include metal oxides, carbon-based structures, and hybrids, which are evaluated for their effectiveness in efficient biofuel production. The properties of such nanomaterials are being utilized as an aid to produce biofuels through improved catalysis, enzyme immobilization and thermal stability. Common synthesis methods, such as sol-gel, coprecipitation, and green synthesis, are compared, alongside characterization tools, such as TEM, SEM, FTIR, and BET. This study focuses on transesterification, biomass pretreatment, and fermentation processes, where nanomaterials significantly improve yield and reusability. There are several challenges, despite the merits of using nanomaterials, and the trade-offs include cost, scalability, and environmental impact, which further expand into evaluating the life cycle of such materials. This review outlines the practical potential of nanomaterials in enabling efficient and sustainable biofuel production.