Biomass to Ethanol

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Biomass to Ethanol
Biomass is an organic material obtained from living organisms. Ethanol fuel, a renewable
and sustainable source of energy is developed from biomass. Biomass can be found in forest debris,
scrap lumber, certain crops (corns and stalk), manure and also from some waste residues that can be
used in producing energy. Since all the previously mentioned will always be existent, and green
energy production can continue indefinitely; this is a renewable energy source. Conversion of
biomass to ethanol fuel produces a clean form of energy.
Significance
The global decline in petroleum reserves, the ever-increasing demand for transportation fuels and
the need to curb the greenhouse effect necessitates the production of renewable energy; in
particular, generation of ethanol from biomass.
Process
The production of ethanol from biomass uses lignin, cellulosic biomass and other components are
known as extractives. Cellulosic biomass is a complex carbohydrate polymer found in plant cell
walls having hemicellulose and cellulose. A pretreatment process is used to reduce the plant size,
break down hemicellulose to sugars and also to open the structure of the cellulose component.
Hydrolysis of the cellulose by enzymes transforms it into glucose sugar, which is then fermented to
ethanol. Additionally, sugar from the hemicellulose is fermented. The process is powered by
burning lignin that is used as the fuel. The aforementioned production can be done either through
wet or dry milling; their main dissimilarity being the initial treatment to the feedstock. The byproducts apart from the ethanol manufactured include high quality and nutritious poultry and
livestock feed. Carbon (IV) Oxide generated during fermentation can be utilized as a preservative in 
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carbonated soft drinks.
The above process is quite costly, and in a bid to shrink the cost, scientists are developing an
efficient and economical technique known as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF)
for manufacturing ethanol. This is a procedure that combines cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation
steps in one place to produce high yields of ethanol.
Benefits
Renewable energy like biomass has several merits. Firstly, it is a source of clean energy
since no harmful emissions are produced, and this helps curb greenhouse effects. Carbon (IV) oxide
produced is recycled by the ecosystem and used by plants. Secondly, it is in abundance since
organisms will potentially never get exhausted. Thirdly, biomass conversion has a positive energy
balance since ethanol produced has an estimated positive net energy balance of about 2 to 36 times
the input energy. Lastly, the ethanol produced is biodegradable and can easily be disposed.
Challenges
Despite the several benefits mentioned above, this method of energy generation has its
demerits. Firstly, the ethanol produced has lower energy content compared to gasoline of equivalent
quantity. Secondly, the less volatile nature of ethanol poses startling problems to engines, especially
during cold seasons. Thirdly, the cost of producing ethanol is high because of the high cost of
enzymes used. Lastly, it is difficult to transport ethanol through pipelines because of its solubility in
water. 
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Works Cited
Liu, Siqing. "Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol by Other Organisms." Biomass to Biofuels (2010):
293-310. Print.