[Moonman62]

The K2 process eliminates expensive enzymes by using a two-step thermo-chemical conversion, first converting the biomass into a synthesis gas, and then processing the gas into ethanol.

Making syngas is great, but why convert that into a crappy fuel like ethanol?

[dufekin]

Ethanol isn’t really a crappy fuel; although somewhat less dense and more caustic than gasoline, it burns fine in properly designed engines. It might be easier chemically (and politically) to convert the unnamed intermediate “synthetic gas” to ethanol than to another fuel. It also might make for some interesting but crowd-pleasing flavors of mixed drinks at the local bar.