Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Cellulosic ethanol production is a different way to produce Ethanol from the more common corn or sugarcane methods. cellulosic ethanol production uses cellulose, or inedible plant fibers. Various fibers such as those from wood pulp, switchgrass, along with any other biodegradable fiber can be used for this process. There is an effort by some environmental advocates to use landfills as a possible source for Cellulosic Ethanol.

A Brief History of Cellulosic Ethanol Production

The first time that cellulosic ethanol was processed for a mass scale was just ahead of the 20th century in 1898. This process involved diluted acid to hydrolyze cellulose to glucose which produced 7.6 liters of ethanol from 100 kg of wood waste, or 18 gallon per ton. The Germans then created an industrial cellulosic ethanol production which achieved around 50 gallons per ton of biomass. The process arrived in the US afterwards and cellulosic ethanol production took place in two commercial plants during World War I in the southeastern US. These plants, using the “American Process” yielded half what the Germans could produce per ton, but the throughput of the process was higher. The plants stopped production shortly after the war. During World War II, the Germans again used cellulosic ethanol production to offset their lack of petroleum to fuel the war efforts. After the war, both Russia and the US restarted research in the process.

Different Methods of Cellulosic Ethanol Production

There are two variations of creating Cellulosic Ethanol. The first is Cellulolysis process which hydrolysis pretreated lignocellulosic material and then fermented and distilled. The second, Gasification, transforms the lignocellulosic material into a gaseous carbon monoxide with hydrogen. The gas can then be converted by fermentation or a chemical catalysis into ethanol.

Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Production

A Canadian biotechnology firm, Iogen Corp., became the first to commercially sell cellulosic ethanol in April of 2004; although the quantities were very small. The primary purchaser for this ethanol has been the Canadian government. Yet another company which may accomplish cellulosic ethanol production for commercial use is Abengoa Bioenergy. This Spanish corporation already has refineries in the US producing ethanol from corn; and continues heavy investment in technology to bring cellulosic ethanol to markets. Meanwhile, Verenium Corporation is operating one of the first cellulosic ethanol production refineries in the US. Marubeni Corp. and Kikai Co, both of Japan has aquired a license from Verenium. BioEthanol, also of Japan, owns the world’s first commercial scale production facility to achieve cellulosic ethanol production from wood construction waste. This plant is in Osaka Japan.

Is Cellulosic Ethanol Production Cheaper

Ethanol production costs are being more closely monitored and considered with the rising concern about overuse of farm land along with corn and sugarcane production. While the current agricultural production of ethanol is considered viable, it has been noted that cellulosic ethanol production would yield up to an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The question comes at a time when current research does not show clear evidence that cellulosic ethanol production is viable commercially. The jury is still out as to which production method is cheaper.