The Rise in Cellulosic Ethanol

Macey Mathews

Presented - November  20

The Rise in Cellulosic Ethanol 

 

Purpose: 

The purpose of my presentation was to educate the class about a type of alternative fuel called cellulosic ethanol that converts wood chips and agricultural waste into fuel. Foreign dependency on oil is an ongoing issue for the US and lowering this dependence is a major priority. This fuel source can be produced within the United States and it uses products considered "waste" while also lowering the CO2 pollution. 

1. Discussion Questions: 
   

   1. Ultimately do you believe that Kior and other companies will be successful in mass-producing cellulosic ethanol on a national scale?

   2. Current estimates say that this renewable oil could only supply 60% of Americans’ fuel…  what are other ideas to reduce dependence on foreign oil? 

   3. Do you believe that cellulosic ethanol will be a viable source with out  depleting natural     recourses? 

2. 
   

   Evidence:

•    can affordably turn agricultural waste products into fuel.
• ·        Kior, a company based inTexas, claimes it has produced a crude oil made from wood chips and would be expected to refine it into gasoline and diesel later this month
• ·        Able to rearrange the molecule of the biomass into oil in a matter of moments
• ·       Takes the cellulose, which is an energy rich molecule found in plants, and convert it into fuel
• ·       PROCESS(for wood): Shred wood into small particles and is fed into a reactor mixing a powdered catalyst. It is then sent to the separator where the catalyst is separated from the renewable crude. The renewable crude and byproducts are then sent into the product recovery where they are cooled and separated and is condensed into a liquid and the gases are send to the cogeneration unit where they are burned and used as electricity. It is then refined into gasoline and diesel 
• ·       Kior deals with mostly wood chips specifically the yellow pine however it is also possible to use other agricultural debris such as switch grass and corn stalk which does not compete with our food supply.
• ·       Companies have predicted that it would reduce gas prices to around 2 dollars a gallon and would produce around 1.2 million jobs in the coming years
• ·       Zion has recently created its first commercial fuel production facility in Columbus Massachusetts earlier this year.
• ·       They are also currently compatible with cars on the road

   Links 

   http://www.kior.com/content/?s=11&t=Technology

   http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/turning-wood-chips-into-gasoline/

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoZraRIPeNI

   http://www.issues.org/27.2/forum.html      (found from gale group)

   Follow Up: 
   http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/5/1/21 (specific information on the composition and process of generating the fuel) 

  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/business/energy-environment/alternative-fuels-long-delayed-promise-might-be-near-fruition.html?pagewanted=all 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1SDAgLn-tk (extended version of the video above)