The baseline time span for this database is (publication years)
1998-2008 from the second bimonthly update (a 10-year + 4-month period).
The resulting database contained 2,231 (10 years) and 1,262 (2 years)
papers; 5,241 authors; 88 nations; 264 journals; and 1,575 institutions.
Interviews, first-person essays, and profiles about
people in a wide variety of fields which pertain to
this special topic of Biofuels.
OVERVIEW
Due to rising oil prices and growing advocacy for environmental issues,
especially climate change, research in alternative energy sources is on the
rise. Of particular interest are biofuels, such as biodiesel, bioalcohols,
and vegetable oil, all of which are being viewed as a potential alternative
to conventional fossil fuels. This month, ScienceWatch.com
examines the research on biofuels over the past decade, and over the past
two years.
Biodiesel production processes dominate the 10-year papers list. Among the
methods and materials explored are transesterification and homogenous
catalysis systems for the conversion of triglycerides, rapeseed oil,
vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and cooking-oil waste into biodiesel. Other
alternative fuel options discussed include solid-state fermentation,
hydroloysis of lignocellulosic materials to create ethanol, and microbial
fuel cells. One review explores the possibilities of
establishing a hydrogen energy infrastructure. Two papers address the
levels of air pollution in China, particularly black carbon,
some of which is the result of biofuel use. Finally, a 1998 NARSTO study
reports on the levels of air pollution from mobile sources, i.e.,
industrial and private motor vehicles and airplanes.
The two-year papers list also puts emphasis on the possible methods,
materials, and technical aspects of biofuel production. Proposed materials
include soybean oil, poultry fat, crude palm kernel oil, crude coconut oil,
and waste cooking oil. Other alternative energy methods are discussed,
including microbial fuel cells, biofuel cells, biosensor systems, dimethyl
ether, nanomaterials for the collection of solar energy, and thermoelectric
materials. One study reports emission reduction using a blended convention
diesel/biodiesel fuel. There are also two surveys of trends in the
production and utilization of biofuels—one examines the European use,
and the other covers the global stage.
Methodology: To construct this database, papers were
extracted based on title-supplied keywords for Biofuels. The keywords used
were as follows:
Keywords: "alternative fuel*" OR "alternative energ*" OR biofuel*
OR biodiesel* OR "green fuel*") OR Topic=(ethanol AND biofuel*
Subject Categories: Engineering, Chemical or Engineering,
Environmental or Engineering, Industrial or Nanoscience &
Nanotechnology or Environmental Sciences or Chemistry, Applied or Materials
Science, Biomaterials or Materials Science, Multidisciplinary or Energy
& Fuels.
The baseline time span for this database is (publication years)
1998-2008 from the second bimonthly update (a 10-year + 4-month period).
The resulting database contained 2,231 (10 years) and 1,262 (2 years)
papers; 5,241 authors; 88 nations; 264 journals; and 1,575 institutions.
Rankings: Once the database was in place, it was used to
generate the lists of top 20 papers (two- and ten-year periods), authors,
journals, institutions, and nations, covering a time span off 1998-2008
from the second bimonthly update (a 10-year + 4-month period).
The top 20 papers are ranked according to total cites. Rankings for author,
journal, institution, and country are listed in three ways: according to
total cites, total papers, and total cites/paper. The paper thresholds and
corresponding percentages used to determine scientist, institution,
country, and journal rankings according to total cites/paper, and total
papers respectively are as follows: