New research from Louisiana Tech University allows cellulose-digesting enzymes like cellulase, pictured here, to be immobilized, reducing enzyme loss and the cost of enzymatic cellulosic ethanol. (Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Posted on 10/10/2009 11:40:03 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
New research from Louisiana Tech University allows cellulose-digesting enzymes like cellulase, pictured here, to be immobilized, reducing enzyme loss and the cost of enzymatic cellulosic ethanol. (Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Cellulosic ethanol is an exciting technology which promises to convert the abundant sources of organic waste worldwide (kitchen waste, yard waste, paper industry waste, etc.) into green alternative fuel. Unlike traditional ethanol, it won't use food crops or raise food prices. In addition, environmental impact studies have indicated that while traditional ethanol releases more greenhouse gases than burning fossil fuels, cellulosic ethanol could reduce emissions substantially.
Traditionally the creation of cellulosic ethanol follows one of two routes. The first route is to first plasmify the organic matter, breaking down the cellulose and creating a gassy mix of small hydrocarbons. This mix is then fed to special bacteria, which produce the ethanol. Coskata, one leading manufacturer that promises $1/gallon ethanol, is implementing this strategy.
A second route is two feed the cellulose directly to enzymes that break it down, and then ferment the resulting sugars to turn them into ethanol. However, this process has traditionally been more expensive than the other approach, as the enzymes cost a lot of money, and typically a significant portion are lost during the cellulose degradation.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...
fyi
What’ll we do with all those drunken termites?
Ethanol still sucks as an auto fuel.
I've spent 10-20 times the amount of imagined savings repairing my beloved older vehicles due to seal damage from that crap.
***Ethanol still sucks as an auto fuel.***
I just got back from a 2000 mile trip out west.
Normally I get 14 mpg from here to the high plains, then 17 mpg in the mountains with my 2001 Dodge PU with 100% gasoline.
This time I got 12 mpg on the plains and 14 in the mountains. I noticed all the fuel I bought now had 10% ethanol.
I keep accurate figures on milage and gallons of gas at each fill up.
You just proved what I discovered 5-10 years ago with my old Geo Storm after the state of Maryland required that all “gas” stations pump gasoline diluted with 10% ethanol.
ethanol bookmark
During the great Arab oil embargo, I was considering converting my dad's 428 Merc over to alcohol. I called Colt Industries of Holley Carburetor fame to get an idea for initial Carburetor jetting. They told me that for a 4150 style Holley 4bbl I should start at 98 primaries and no secondary jets. Needless to say I never went through with it as the fuel economy would have been beyond bad. I was not aware at the time that seals were an issue. I'd rather stick with ave gas.
The biggest drawback to cellosic ethanol is that its fuel is considered to be “waste” or “refuse.” In agriculture, we consider cornstalks, bean stubble, and other forms of “waste” to be soil ammendments or compost. The organic content is essential to rebuilding or maintaining topsoil. Without it the soil decreases in fertility (high levels of nitrogen fertilizer causes rapid decline of organic content, according to the University of Illinois).
I am aware of the claims of growing switchgrass on poor ground, but all of the analysis ignores the issues of storage, transport, harvesting, and pricing of commercial quantities of the raw materials.
I still think cellosic ethanol is impractical, if not downright dangerous to our future food supply. I will keep my compost pile, thank you.....
hh
Yes, it would be better for our earth if we made fuel out of those who promote it, n’est pa?
Petroleum is for engines.
Corn is for cereal.
And cellosic ethanol is not made from corn...
“And cellosic ethanol is not made from corn...”
I’m, waiting . . . . .
Very clever of the author to make the claim but not tell us how much is the cost reduced. It will have to be a huge amount to make ethanol competitive with gasoline.
By “competitive,” I’m including all the mechanical modifications needed to make the average vehicle suitable for ethanol use.
I am all for turning the “waste” from human activity to energy, whenever possible, efficient and economical, as opposed to burying it or dumping it in the ocean. All such activities should be encouraged, I believe.
But, I do not hold out for such processes to do more than augment our energy supplies, reducing some demand for traditional energy sources but never providing the largest amount of our energy needs.
My preferential view of our energy future is one where the downsizing of nuclear energy abilities (already taking place), together with wind, solar and some “bio” fuels, and continued use of fossil fuels, reverses the paradigm of “the grid” to one where downsized nuclear, as well as that plus “alternatives” supply most all energy as needed, in place, where needed, most of the time and “the grid” is the emergency back-up instead of the main source. In that scenario, almost all energy failures are NOT systemic and eventually even temporary “backup” should be generated and saved, locally.
Transportation, on the other hand, is a moving-energy-demand target, by nature. I think it will always need a network of energy re-supply sources and always have some limit, in distance, that it can obtain from the supply it carries - until “refueled”.
But, in the area of the energy needs for anything that involves a fixed site on the land, only when downsized nuclear (industrial size demand-load capable) is combined with “alternatives” can the “mega power” generation paradigm and its need to transport massive amounts of energy all over the place be replaced with a paradigm in which most energy is produced as close as possible to where it is needed; and efficiently and economically as well.
I suppose we will go metric someday, as the system is just too easy to use.
One more thing...what does AFAIK mean?
But think of all the jobs generated for those who are not as skilled as you at repairing their own vehicles. It’s the green economy. We can do more and more damage that will require more and more work to repair and it will all be mandatory so that we can pay more and more government enforcement workers to make sure that markets cease to operate and we do more and more damage to the Constitution. Got it?
I don’t disagree with that, but the biomass from sewage treatment plants is spread on ariable farmland, as well....
hh
I a somewhat related matter, my Buick's spedo can transfer between mph and kph at the push of a button.
Wow, heres and interesting fact, Sunoco just closed a local refinery near me putting hundreds out of work.
Why?
Well, demand for gasoline in down about 10% and they can make that up at their other refinery.
10%, hmmm, that number sounds familiar?
Get it?
So, let's review.
Our taxes were stolen by big corn whores to dilute our gasoline with 10% crappy gooyo and now people are out of work because of same.
Just sayin'!
Remember those magic machines which were supposedly fed animal entrails like turkey and chicken guts and, presto!, ethanol? Maybe we need to bring that back and feed it Al along with the rest of the gore!
![](http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:R8sR7daexSBGmM:www.ted-kyte.com/3D/Pictures/Spark%2520Plug.jpg";)
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....
If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....
I have had the same experience. It follows that old adage: You don’t get something for nothing. Ethanol’s lower energy content will not save you gasoline, instead it makes you buy more of it. Now, pure ethanol, OTHOH, might be considered a good fuel alternative, if the price were competitive and every car could use it. Diluting gasoline with 10% ethanol is a dumb idea, like trying to stretch you ground beef supplies by including filet mignon as a filler...................
Organic matter is very important for soil. Your soil should be a healthy living ferment like sauerkraut where worms and bacteria are having a field day digesting and composting. I use some chemical fertilizer w trace elements but am otherwise organic
You can take land and strip mine it via continual corn cropping and get in on the ethanol bonanza....which has petered out to my knowledge
They do that in Brazil too where land is abused to grow sugar cane to make ethanol since a large number of Brazilian vehicles run on it. Brazilians figure they can always move on to new virgin land in the Amazon and redo it all
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
And I now see your question was answered, but not in a way such that you could see it by hitting the “View Replies” button in your post.
If they can actually deliver on making it for $1/gal, then it will put a ceiling on OPEC's prices.
Look for OPEC to fund some environmental group to find a way to shut them down.
“Petroleum is for engines. Corn is for cereal and making good sipping bourbon in Tennessee.”
While I don’t, myself, imbibe, I respect your right to do so. Happy corn squeezins! Let’s do what we can to keep this exceptional nation of ours free!
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