Added: 19.06.2010 22:08
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Non Edible Matter as Alternative Sources for Ethanol

There are other non food sources where ethanol can be produced from but this has not really become popular. Most ethanol research currently focuses on cellulose plants as sources of ethanol.

Over the years the production of ethanol has mainly been from edible sources such as food grains, cassava, sugar cane, etc. However, the production of ethanol from food products has been recently criticized for causing scarcity of food for both humans and animals, therefore making the overall cost of food more expensive. Also, there is a prediction of a more devastating effect in the future if the production ethanol from food products continues.


There are other non food sources where ethanol can be produced from but this has not really gained popularity. Most ethanol research currently focuses on cellulose plants as sources of ethanol. So, this type of ethanol will be produced from plant materials which are not eaten by humans and many livestock. Thus, there won’t be any criticism of food products being used for fuel.

However, producing ethanol from non-edible product can be very difficult because the product has to be efficiently converted to ethanol, and must be present in large quantities in order to be worth processing.

In the United States, researchers are focusing on switchgrass as source of ethanol. This grass can be cut, harvested and used for ethanol production without replanting. A study has also shown that switchgrass can produce up to 93 percent more biomass in about 4047 square meters land. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-other-sources-is-ethanol-research-concentrating-on.htm).

In Nigeria, the Institute of Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, produces ethanol from the palm biomass. When I visited the institute last year for a research purpose, I saw how this was possible. Fallen trunk of palm tree was processed to produce ethanol. However, I didn’t find out about the efficiency and quantity of the production as this wasn’t the main purpose of my research.

I believe there are other cheap sources of ethanol. Perhaps, a research on more plants in Africa might reveal a more efficient and high quantity yielding ethanol source. There are lot of tuberous plants in Africa just like cassava that are not edible; these kind of plants could turn out to be a great source of ethanol.




Reference:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-other-sources-is-ethanol-research-concentrating-on.htm

Research question: Which non edible product could be the most efficient high quantity yeilding ethanol?

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