Ethanol Anthony Mirabile, Katelyn Snyder, John St. Fleur

Introduction to Ethanol Ethanol in the Future: Cellulosic vs. Grain Based Impacts the Law has on Ethanol Development of Ethanol

Ethanol Cellulosic Ethanol – Chemical Reaction using Acids – Enzymatic Reaction Corn-Based Ethanol Ethanol in the Future

Chemical Hydrolysis Attacking Cellulose with Acid Mixing Acids and Sugars Balance between acids, temperature, and heat

Enzymatic Reaction Breaking Cellulose Chains Conditions Enzymes are used By Products

Corn-Based Ethanol % of Ethanol in most Gas Can be mass produced Significance for future

Geographical Impact on the Development of Ethanol Large-scale “energy farming,” necessary to produce agricultural alcohol, requires substantial amounts of cultivated land. Tropical regions with abundant water and land resources are perfect for ethanol production from sugarcane. – However, sugarcane plantations are not sustainable in the long-run due to depleting the soil of nutrients and carbon matter. The U.S. is fit for corn and cellulosic ethanol; more energy balanced.

CropAnnual yield (Liters/ hectare ) Annual yield (US gal/acre) Greenhouse- gas savings (% vs. petrol) Comments Miscanthus Low-input perennial grass. Ethanol production depends on development of cellulosic technology. Switchgrass Low-input perennial grass. Ethanol production depends on development of cellulosic technology. Breeding efforts underway to increase yields. Higher biomass production possible with mixed species of perennial grasses. Poplar Fast-growing tree. Ethanol production depends on development of cellulosic technology. Completion of genomic sequencing project will aid breeding efforts to increase yields. Sugar cane Long-season annual grass. Used as feedstock for most bioethanol produced in Brazil. Newer processing plants burn residues not used for ethanol to generate electricity. Only grows in tropical and subtropical climates. Sweet sorghum No dataLow-input annual grass. Ethanol production possible using existing technology. Grows in tropical and temperate climates, but highest ethanol yield estimates assume multiple crops per year (only possible in tropical climates). Does not store well. Corn High-input annual grass. Used as feedstock for most bioethanol produced in USA. Only kernels can be processed using available technology; development of commercial cellulosic technology would allow stover to be used and increase ethanol yield by 1, ,000 litres/ha. Source (except sorghum): Nature 444 (December 7, 2006): December 72006

Ethanol Plants In the U.S. Existing plants can be modified and enhanced. Production can take place in minimally developed areas.

Laws/Regulations/Policies Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 (CAA) – The Act mandates the use of cleaner burning fuels in the smoggiest U.S. cities. – Created new market opportunities for ethanol. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Developed energy requirements to distribute and disperse ethanol.

Technical Impediments Current technologies are not advanced enough to get efficiency energy out of the corn. Better technologies are needed to take advantage of cellulose energy potential. – In specific, better enzymes are needed to increase the efficiency of cellulosic breakdown.

Can the Impediments Be Overcome? Yes! With increased government funding, time, and research. – There is a big race going on to complete these advancements.

Environmental Problems Deforestation Large amounts of land needed Air pollutants (carbon dioxide in particular) are released into the atmosphere Soil Erosion and Nutrient run-off

Ethanol In The Future E 85 Ethanol based Aviation Fuel Ethanol Diesel Development of Fuel Cells

Sources m