Cellulosic ethanol (also called ceetol) is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants. ^[1] Bio-energy redirects here. ...

It is a type of biofuel produced from lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of plants. Lignocellulose is composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus and woodchips are some of the more popular cellulosic materials for ethanol production. Cellulosic ethanol is chemically identical to ethanol from other sources, such as corn starch or sugar, but has the advantage that the lignocellulose raw material is highly abundant and diverse. (The word "cellulosic" simply refers to the source material.) However, it differs in that it requires a greater amount of processing to make the sugar monomers available to the microorganisms that are typically used to produce ethanol by fermentation. Bio-energy redirects here. ... Cellulose as polymer of β-D-glucose Cellulose in 3D Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is a polysaccharide of beta-glucose. ... A hemicellulose can be any of several heteropolymers (matrix polysaccharides) present in almost all cell walls along with cellulose. ... Lignin (sometimes lignen) is a chemical compound (complex, highly cross-linked aromatic polymer) that is most commonly derived from wood and is an integral part of the cell walls of plants, especially in tracheids, xylem fibres and sclereids. ... Stover consists of the leaves and stalks of corn (maize), sorghum or soybean plants that are left in a field after harvest. ... Binomial name L. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm season grass and is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie. ... Species See text. ... International Paper Company Wood pulp is the most common material used to make paper. ... Grain alcohol redirects here. ... Binomial name L. Corn (Zea mays L. ssp. ... This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ...

Switchgrass and Miscanthus are the major biomass materials being studied today, due to high levels of cellulose. Cellulose, however, is contained in nearly every natural, free-growing plant, tree, and bush, in meadows, forests, and fields all over the world without agricultural effort or cost needed to make it grow.

According to U.S. Department of Energy studies^[2] conducted by the Argonne Laboratories of the University of Chicago, one of the benefits of cellulosic ethanol is that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 85% over reformulated gasoline. By contrast, starch ethanol (e.g., from corn), which most frequently uses natural gas to provide energy for the process, may not reduce GHG emissions at all depending on how the starch-based feedstock is produced.^[3] A study by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen found ethanol produced from corn, rapeseed (canola), and sugarcane had a "net climate warming" effect when compared to oil.^[4] Top: Increasing atmospheric levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... Paul J. Crutzen (December 3rd, 1933 - ) is a Dutch nobel prize winning atmospheric chemist. ...

History

The first attempt at commercializing a process for ethanol from wood was done in Germany in 1898. It involved the use of dilute acid to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose, and was able to produce 7.6 liters of ethanol per 100 kg of wood waste (18 gal per ton). The Germans soon developed an industrial process optimized for yields of around 50 gallons per ton of biomass. This process soon found its way to the United States, culminating in two commercial plants operating in the southeast during World War I. These plants used what was called "the American Process" — a one-stage dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Though the yields were half that of the original German process (25 gallons of ethanol per ton versus 50), the throughput of the American process was much higher. A drop in lumber production forced the plants to close shortly after the end of World War I. In the meantime, a small, but steady amount of research on dilute acid hydrolysis continued at the USDA's Forest Products Laboratory.^[5][6][7]

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In April 2004, Iogen Corporation, a Canadian biotechnology firm, became the first business to commercially sell cellulosic ethanol, though in very small quantities. The primary consumer thus far has been the Canadian government, which, along with the United States government (particularly the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory), has invested millions of dollars into assisting the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. Iogen Corporation (sometimes called simply Iogen) is a Canadian company located in Ottawa, Ontario. ... The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. ... The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, is the United Statess primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. ...

Another company which appears to be nearing commercialization of cellulosic ethanol is Spain's Abengoa Bioenergy.^[8] Abengoa has and continues to invest heavily in the necessary technology for bringing cellulosic ethanol to market. Using process and pre-treatment technology from SunOpta Inc.(NASDAQ: STKL) (multiple class-action lawsuits have been filed by shareholders against SunOpta), Abengoa is building a 5 million gallon cellulosic ethanol facility in Spain and has recently entered into a strategic research and development agreement with Dyadic International, Inc. (AMEX: DIL), to create a new and better enzyme mixture which may be used to improve both the efficiencies and cost structure of producing cellulosic ethanol. SunOpta (NASDAQ: STKL, TSX: SOY) is a Canadian company. ...

Verenium Corporation [2] operates one of the USA’s first cellulosic ethanol pilot plants, an R&D facility, in Jennings, Louisiana and expects to achieve mechanical completion of a 1.4 million gallon-per-year, demonstration-scale facility to produce cellulosic ethanol by the end of the first quarter of 2008. In addition, the Company’s process technology has been licensed by Tokyo-based Marubeni Corp. and Tsukishima Kikai Co., LTD and has been incorporated into BioEthanol Japan’s 1.4 million liter-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Osaka, Japan – the world’s first commercial-scale plant to produce cellulosic ethanol from wood construction waste.

On December 21, 2006, SunOpta Inc. announced a Joint Venture with GreenField Ethanol, Canada's largest ethanol producer. The joint venture will build a series of large-scale plants that will make ethanol from wood chips, with SunOpta Inc. and GreenField each taking 50% ownership. The first of these plants will be 10 million gallons per year, which appears to be the first true "commercial scale" cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. Under 1 million gallons per year (MMgy) is considered "Pilot Scale", greater than 1–10 MMgy is defined as "commercial demonstration", while a plant that produces 10 MMgy or greater is true "commercial scale". Despite the multiple commercial demonstration cellulosic ethanol plants SunOpta has been involved with, media reports continue to state that cellulosic ethanol is an unproven, "experimental" technology. The 10 MMgy SunOpta/GreenField cellulosic ethanol plant is intended to demonstrate that large-scale cellulosic ethanol is commercially viable immediately. is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... SunOpta (NASDAQ: STKL, TSX: SOY) is a Canadian company. ...

United States President Bush, in his State of the Union address delivered January 31, 2006, proposed to expand the use of cellulosic ethanol. In his State of the Union Address on January 23, 2007, President Bush announced a proposed mandate for 35 billion gallons of ethanol by 2017. It is widely recognized that the maximum production of ethanol from corn starch is 15 billion gallons per year, implying a proposed mandate for production of some 20 billion gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol by 2017. Bush's proposed plan includes $2 billion funding (from 2007-2017?) for cellulosic ethanol plants, with an additional $1.6 billion (from 2007-2017?) announced by the USDA on January 27, 2007. George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Alternative meanings in State of the Union (disambiguation) The State of the Union Address is an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country, normally to a joint session of the U.S. Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

In March 2007, the US government awarded $385 million in grants aimed at jumpstarting ethanol production from nontraditional sources like wood chips, switchgrass and citrus peels. Half of the six projects chosen will use thermo-chemical methods and half will use cellulosic ethanol methods.^[9]

The American company Range Fuels announced in July 2007 that it was awarded a construction permit from the state of Georgia to build the first commercial-scale 100-million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in the United States.^[10] Construction began in November, 2007.^[11]

In April 2008, George Huber of the University of Massachusetts Amherst received a $400,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to pursue his revolutionary new method for making biofuels, or "green gasoline," (Energy Daily 2008). The U.S. could potentially produce 1.3 billion dry tons of cellulosic biomass per year, which has the energy content of four billion barrels of crude oil. This translates to 65% of American oil consumption.^[12]

Production methods

There are two ways of producing alcohol from cellulose: Cellulose as polymer of β-D-glucose Cellulose in 3D Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is a polysaccharide of beta-glucose. ...

• Cellulolysis processes which consist of hydrolysis on pretreated lignocellulosic materials followed by fermentation and distillation.
• Gasification that transforms the lignocellulosic raw material into gaseous carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These gases can be converted to ethanol by fermentation or chemical catalysis.

They both include distillation as the final step to isolate the pure ethanol. Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction or process in which a chemical compound is broken down by reaction with water. ... For the water carbonator, see Gasogene. ... Lignocellulosic biomass is biomass composed primarily by lignin and cellulose. ...

Cellulolysis (biological approach)

There are four or five stages to produce ethanol using a biological approach:

1. A "pretreatment" phase, to make the lignocellulosic material such as wood or straw amenable to hydrolysis,
2. Cellulose hydrolysis (cellulolysis), to break down the molecules into sugars;
3. Separation of the sugar solution from the residual materials, notably lignin;
4. Microbial fermentation of the sugar solution;
5. Distillation to produce 99.5% pure alcohol.

Lignin (sometimes lignen) is a chemical compound (complex, highly cross-linked aromatic polymer) that is most commonly derived from wood and is an integral part of the cell walls of plants, especially in tracheids, xylem fibres and sclereids. ...

Pretreatment

Although cellulose is the most abundant plant material resource, its susceptibility has been curtailed by its rigid structure. As the result, an effective pretreatment is needed to liberate the cellulose from the lignin seal and its crystalline structure so as to render it accessible for a subsequent hydrolysis step.^[13] By far, most pretreatments are done through physical or chemical means. In order to achieve higher efficiency, some researchers seek to incorporate both effects.^[14]

To date, the available pretreatment techniques include acid hydrolysis, steam explosion, ammonia fiber expansion, alkaline wet oxidation and ozone pretreatment.^[15] Besides effective cellulose liberation, an ideal pretreatment has to minimize the formation of degradation products because of their inhibitory effects on subsequent hydrolysis and fermentation processes.^[16] The presence of inhibitors will not only further complicate the ethanol production but also increase the cost of production due to entailed detoxification steps. Even though pretreatment by acid hydrolysis is probably the oldest and most studied pretreatment technique, it produces several potent inhibitors including furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) which are by far regarded as the most toxic inhibitors present in lignocellulosic hydrolysate.^[17] In fact, Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) is the sole pretreatment which features promising pretreatment efficiency with no inhibitory effect in resulting hydrolysate.^[18] The chemical compound furfural is an industrial chemical derived from a variety of agricultural byproducts, including corncobs, oat and wheat bran, and sawdust. ...

Cellulolytic processes

The cellulose molecules are composed of long chains of sugar molecules. In the hydrolysis process, these chains are broken down to free the sugar, before it is fermented for alcohol production. Cellulose as polymer of β-D-glucose Cellulose in 3D Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is a polysaccharide of beta-glucose. ... Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction or process in which a chemical compound is broken down by reaction with water. ...

There are two major cellulose hydrolysis (cellulolysis) processes: a chemical reaction using acids, or an enzymatic reaction. Human glyoxalase I. Two zinc ions that are needed for the enzyme to catalyze its reaction are shown as purple spheres, and an enzyme inhibitor called S-hexylglutathione is shown as a space-filling model, filling the two active sites. ...

Chemical hydrolysis

In the traditional methods developed in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, hydrolysis is performed by attacking the cellulose with an acid.^[19] Dilute acid may be used under high heat and high pressure, or more concentrated acid can be used at lower temperatures and atmospheric pressure, like BlueFire Ethanol (OTCBB: BFRE). A decrystalized cellulosic mixture of acid and sugars reacts in the presence of water to complete individual sugar molecules (hydrolysis). The product from this hydrolysis is then neutralized and yeast fermentation is used to produce ethanol. As mentioned, a significant obstacle to the dilute acid process is that the hydrolysis is so harsh that toxic degradation products are produced that can interfere with fermentation. Concentrated acid must be separated from the sugar stream for recycle (simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatographic separation for example) to be commercially attractive.

Enzymatic hydrolysis

Cellulose chains can be broken into glucose molecules by cellulase enzymes. Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is an important carbohydrate in biology. ... Cellulase is an enzyme complex which breaks down cellulose to beta-glucose. ... Human glyoxalase I. Two zinc ions that are needed for the enzyme to catalyze its reaction are shown as purple spheres, and an enzyme inhibitor called S-hexylglutathione is shown as a space-filling model, filling the two active sites. ...

This reaction occurs at body temperature in the stomach of ruminants such as cows and sheep, where the enzymes are produced by bacteria. This process uses several enzymes at various stages of this conversion. Using a similar enzymatic system, lignocellulosic materials can be enzymatically hydrolyzed at a relatively mild condition (50^oC and pH5), thus enabling effective cellulose breakdown without the formation of byproducts that would otherwise inhibit enzyme activity. By far, all major pretreatment methods, including dilute acid pretreatment, require enzymatic hydrolysis step to achieve high sugar yield for ethanol fermentation^[18]

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A start-up American environmental company Wise Landfill Recycling Mining, has discovered a purely organic hydrolysis process for cellulosic ethanol that generates 4.4 times the ethanol product from trash, at a rate that is oil-independent capable^[20] without process-intensive genetically modified microbes. Their method also boasts of being not merely carbon neutral, but carbon negative.^[21] For Fuel Freedom, Incorporated was awarded license of their technology.^[22] A carbon audit regime is an effective means of accounting for greenhouse gas control efforts. ...

Various enzyme companies have also contributed significant technological breakthroughs in cellulosic ethanol through the mass production of enzymes for hydrolysis at competitive prices.

Iogen Corporation is a Canadian producer of enzymes for an enzymatic hydrolysis process that uses "specially engineered enzymes".^[23] The raw material (wood or straw) has to be pre-treated to make it amenable to hydrolysis. Iogen Corporation (sometimes called simply Iogen) is a Canadian company located in Ottawa, Ontario. ...

Trichoderma reesei is used by Iogen Corporation. Binomial name Trichoderma reesei is a mesophilic and filamentous fungus. ... Iogen Corporation (sometimes called simply Iogen) is a Canadian company located in Ottawa, Ontario. ...

Another Canadian company, SunOpta Inc. markets a patented technology known as "Steam Explosion" to pre-treat cellulosic biomass, overcoming its "recalcitance" to make cellulose and hemicellulose accessible to enzymes for conversion into fermenatable sugars. SunOpta designs and engineers cellulosic ethanol biorefineries and its process technologies and equipment are in use in the first 3 commercial demonstration scale plants in the world:^[24] Verenium (formerly Celunol Corporation)'s facility in Jennings, Louisiana, Abengoa's facility in Salamanca, Spain, and a facility in China owned by China Resources Alcohol Corporation (CRAC). The CRAC facility is currently producing cellulosic ethanol from local corn stover on a 24-hour a day basis utilizing SunOpta's process and technology. A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and value-added chemicals from biomass. ...

Genencor and Novozymes are two other companies that have received United States government Department of Energy funding for research into reducing the cost of cellulase, a key enzyme in the production of cellulosic ethanol by enzymatic hydrolysis.

Other enzyme companies, such as Dyadic International, Inc. (AMEX: DIL), are developing genetically engineered fungi which would produce large volumes of cellulase, xylanase and hemicellulase enzymes which can be utilized to convert agricultural residues such as corn stover, distiller grains, wheat straw and sugar cane bagasse and energy crops such as switch grass into fermentable sugars which may be used to produce cellulosic ethanol. Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ... An energy crop is a plant domesticated for use in agriculture and is produced as a low cost and low maintenance harvest (generally, non food crops) to be used to make biofuels or directly exploited for its energy content. ... Binomial name L. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm season grass and is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie. ...

Verenium Corporation (NASDAQ: VRNM), the new name of recently merged Diversa and Celunol Corporations, operates a pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Jennings, Louisiana and is building a 1.4 million gallon per year demonstration plant on adjacent land to be completed by the end of 2007 and begin operation in early 2008. Vernium is the first publicly traded company with integrated, end-to-end capabilities to make cellulosic biofuels. Diversa prospects in hot springs. ...

Microbial fermentation

Main article: Ethanol fermentation

Traditionally, baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), has long been used in brewery industry to produce ethanol from hexoses (6-carbon sugar). Due to the complex nature of the carbohydrates present in lignocellulosic biomass, a significant amount of xylose and arabinose (5-carbon sugars derived from the hemicellulose portion of the lignocellulose) is also present in the hydrolysate. For example, in the hydrolysate of corn stover, approximately 30% of the total fermentable sugars is xylose. As a result, the ability of the fermenting microorganisms to utilize the whole range of sugars available from the hydrolysate is vital to increase the economic competitiveness of cellulosic ethanol and potentially bio-based chemicals. Beer - A Product of Ethanol Fermentation Ethanol fermentation is the biological process by which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, are converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. ... Binomial name Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen ex E.C. Hansen Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of budding yeast. ... A hexose is a monosaccharide with six carbon atoms having the chemical formula C6H12O6. ... Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk. ... Lignocellulosic biomass is biomass composed primarily by lignin and cellulose. ... Xylose or wood sugar is an aldopentose — a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms and including an aldehyde functional group. ... Fischer projection of L-arabinose The chemical structure of D-arabinofuranose Arabinose is an aldopentose — a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, and including an aldehyde (CHO) functional group. ... Stover consists of the leaves and stalks of corn (maize), sorghum or soybean plants that are left in a field after harvest. ...

In recent years, metabolic engineering for microorganisms used in fuel ethanol production has shown significant progress.^[25] Besides Saccharomyces cerevisiae, microorganisms such as Zymomonas mobilis and Escherichia coli have been targeted through metabolic engineering for cellulosic ethanol production.

Recently, engineered yeasts have been described efficiently fermenting xylose^[26] and arabinose,^[27] and even both together.^[28] Yeast cells are especially attractive for cellulosic ethanol processes as they have been used in biotechnology for hundred of years, as they are tolerant to high ethanol and inhibitor concentrations and as they can grow at low pH values which avoids bacterial contaminations.

Combined hydrolysis and fermentation

Some species of bacteria have been found capable of direct conversion of a cellulose substrate into ethanol. One example is Clostridium thermocellum, which utilizes a complex cellulosome to break down cellulose and synthesize ethanol. However, C. thermocellum also produces other products during cellulose metabolism, including acetate and lactate, in addition to ethanol, lowering the efficiency of the process. Some research efforts are directed to optimizing ethanol production by genetically engineering bacteria that focus on the ethanol-producing pathway.^[29] Binomial name Clostridium thermocellum NCBI Clostridium thermocellum is an anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium. ... Cellulosomes are complexes of enzymes created by bacteria such as Clostridium and Bacteroides, but functioning outside the cell. ... For other uses, see Acetate (disambiguation). ... For the production of milk by mammals, see Lactation. ... Elements of genetic engineering For a non-technical introduction to the topic, see Introduction to Genetics. ...

Gasification process (thermochemical approach)

Fluidized Bed Gasifier in Güssing Burgenland Austria

The gasification process does not rely on chemical decomposition of the cellulose chain (cellulolysis). Instead of breaking the cellulose into sugar molecules, the carbon in the raw material is converted into synthesis gas, using what amounts to partial combustion. The carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen may then be fed into a special kind of fermenter. Instead of sugar fermentation with yeast, this process uses a microorganism named “Clostridium ljungdahlii”.^[30] This microorganism will ingest (eat) carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen and produce ethanol and water. The process can thus be broken into three steps: Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x761, 106 KB) Holzvergaser Güssung 2006 eigene Aufnahme File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wood gas Güssing Fischer-Tropsch process Cellulosic ethanol ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x761, 106 KB) Holzvergaser Güssung 2006 eigene Aufnahme File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wood gas Güssing Fischer-Tropsch process Cellulosic ethanol ... Güssing ( in Hungarian Németújvár ) is a town in Burgenland, Austria The lords of Güssing (in Hungarian: Köszeg, in Slovak: Kysak) were a noble family in the frontier region of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. ... Burgenland (Hungarian Várvidék, Őrvidék or FelsÅ‘Å‘rvidék, Croatian Gradišće, Slovenian Gradiščansko) is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. ... Syngas (from synthesis gas) is the name given to gasses of varying composition that are generated in coal gasification and some types of waste-to-energy facilities. ...

1. Gasification — Complex carbon based molecules are broken apart to access the carbon as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen are produced
2. Fermentation — Convert the carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen into ethanol using the Clostridium ljungdahlii organism
3. Distillation — Ethanol is separated from water

A recent study has found another Clostridium bacterium that seems to be twice as efficient in making ethanol from carbon monoxide as the one mentioned above.^[31]

Alternatively, the synthesis gas from gasification may be fed to a catalytic reactor where the synthesis gas is used to produce ethanol and other higher alcohols through a thermochemical process.^[32] This process can also generate other types of liquid fuels, an alternative concept under investigation by at least one biofuels company.^[33]

Economics

After the ethanol is produced, it must be distilled from the mash. Most US producers use natural gas to provide the heat of distillation. In Brazil, producers are known to burn waste sugar cane stalks to distill their ethanol.

Construction of pilot scale lignocellulosic ethanol plants requires considerable financial support through grants and subsidies. On 28 February 2007, the U.S. Dept. of Energy announced $385 million in grant funding to six cellulosic ethanol plants.^[34] This grant funding accounts for 40% of the investment costs. The remaining 60% comes from the promoters of those facilities. Hence, a total of $1 billion will be invested for approximately 140 million gallon capacity. This translates into $7/annual gallon production capacity in capital investment costs for pilot plants (this would work out to $.35/gal over the 20-year life of a facility); future capital costs are expected to be lower. Corn to ethanol plants cost roughly $1–3/annual gallon capacity, though the cost of the corn itself is considerably greater than for switchgrass or waste biomass.^[35][36] is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

The quest for alternative sources of energy has provided many ways to produce electricity, such as wind farms, hydropower, or solar cells. However, about 20% of total energy consumption is dedicated to transportation (i.e., cars, planes, lorries/trucks, etc.)^[37] and currently requires energy-dense liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or kerosene. These fuels are all obtained by refining petroleum. This dependency on oil has two major drawbacks: burning fossil fuels such as oil may contribute to global warming; and for net-consuming countries like the United States, importing oil creates a dependency on oil-producing countries. A wind farm is a collection of wind turbines in the same location. ... Undershot water wheels on the Orontes River in Hama, Syria Saint Anthony Falls Hydropower or hydraulic power is the force or energy of moving water. ... A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts solar energy into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. ... Petrol redirects here. ... Diesel or diesel fuel (IPA: ) in general is any fuel used in diesel engines. ... For other uses, see Kerosene (disambiguation). ... Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ...

As of 2007, ethanol is produced mostly from sugars or starches, obtained from fruits and grains. In contrast, cellulosic ethanol is obtained from cellulose, the main component of wood, straw and much of the structure of plants. Since cellulose cannot be digested by humans, the production of cellulose does not compete with the production of food, other than conversion of land from food production to cellulose production (which has recently started to become an issue, due to rising wheat prices.) The price per ton of the raw material is thus much cheaper than grains or fruits. Moreover, since cellulose is the main component of plants, the whole plant can be harvested. This results in much better yields per acre — up to 10 tons, instead of 4 or 5 tons for the best crops of grain.^{[citation needed]}

The raw material is plentiful. Cellulose is present in every plant, in the form of straw, grass, and wood. Most of these "bio-mass" products are currently discarded. It is estimated that 323 million tons of cellulose containing raw materials that could be used to create ethanol are thrown away each year. This includes 36.8 million dry tons of urban wood wastes, 90.5 million dry tons of primary mill residues, 45 million dry tons of forest residues, and 150.7 million dry tons of corn stover & wheat straw.^[38] Transforming them into ethanol using efficient and cost effective hemi(cellulase) enzymes or other processes might provide as much as 30% of the current fuel consumption in the United States — and probably similar figures in other oil-importing regions like China or Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Moreover, even land marginal for agriculture could be planted with cellulose-producing crops like switchgrass, resulting in enough production to substitute for all the current oil imports into the United States.^[39] Binomial name L. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm season grass and is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie. ...

Paper, cardboard, and packaging comprise a substantial part of the solid waste sent to landfills in the United States each day, 41.26% of all organic municipal solid waste (MSW) according to California Integrated Waste Management Board's city profiles. These city profiles account for accumulation of 612.3 tons daily per landfill where an average population density of 2,413 per square mile persists. Organic waste consists of 0.4% Manures, 1.6% Gypsum Board, 4.2% Glossy Paper, 4.2% Paper Ledger, 9.2% Wood, 10.5% Envelopes, 11.9% Newsprint, 12.3% Grass & Leaves, 30.0% Food Scrap, 34.0% Office Paper, 35.2% Corrugated Cardboard, and 46.4% Agricultural Composites, makes up 71.51% of land fill. All these except Gypsum Board contain cellulose which is transformable into cellulosic ethanol^[38] because they are the leading cause of methane plumes. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is 21 times more potent than carbon-dioxide.^[40] Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula . ...

Reduction of the disposal of solid waste through cellulosic ethanol conversion would reduce solid waste disposal costs by local and state governments. It is estimated that each person in the US throws away 4.4 lb (2.0 kg) of trash each day, of which 37% contains waste paper which is largely cellulose. That computes to 244 thousand tons per day of discarded waste paper that contains cellulose.^[41] The raw material to produce cellulosic ethanol is not only free, it has a negative cost — i.e., ethanol producers can get paid to take it away.^[42]

The environmental company Wise Landfill Recycling Mining^[43] expects to start generating cellulosic ethanol product from trash early 2008.^[44]. Their method also boasts of being not merely carbon neutral, but oil independent.^[45] A carbon audit regime is an effective means of accounting for greenhouse gas control efforts. ...

In June 2006, a U.S. Senate hearing was told that the current cost of producing cellulosic ethanol is US $2.25 per US gallon (US $0.59/litre). This is primarily due to the current poor conversion efficiency.^{[citation needed]} At that price it would cost about $120 to substitute a barrel of oil (42 gallons), taking into account the lower energy content of ethanol. However, the Department of Energy is optimistic and has requested a doubling of research funding. The same Senate hearing was told that the research target was to reduce the cost of production to US $1.07 per US gallon (US $0.28/litre) by 2012. "The production of cellulosic ethanol represents not only a step toward true energy diversity for the country, but a very cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels. It is advanced weaponry in the war on oil,” said Vinod Khosla, managing partner of Khosla Ventures, who recently told a Reuters Global Biofuels Summit that he could see cellulosic fuel prices sinking to $1 per gallon within ten years.

University of Massachusetts at Amherst researchers have developed a streamlined technique which uses "catalytic fast pyrolysis" (heating to 400–600 °C followed by rapid cooling) and zeolite as a catalyst to produce cellulosic ethanol in about 60 seconds. They estimate improvements in the process should be able to generate ethanol at the equivalent of $1–$1.70/gal of gasoline. As of April 2008, the process has only been developed to work at laboratory scales.^[12] Zeolite The micro-porous molecular structure of a zeolite, ZSM-5 Zeolites (Greek, zein, to boil; lithos, a stone) are minerals that have a micro-porous structure. ...

Environmental effects: corn-based vs. grass-based

Today, there is only a small amount of switchgrass dedicated for ethanol production. In order for it to be grown on a large-scale production it must compete with existing uses of agricultural land, mainly for the production of crop commodities. Of the United States' 2.26 billion acres (9.1 million km²) of unsubmerged land,^[46] 33% are forestland, 26% pastureland and grassland, and 20% crop land. A study done by the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture in 2005, determined whether there were enough available land resources to sustain production of over 1 billion dry tons of biomass annually to replace 30% or more of the nation’s current use of liquid transportation fuels. The study found that there could be 1.3 billion dry tons of biomass available for ethanol use, by making little changes in agricultural and forestry practices and meeting the demands for forestry products, food, and fiber.^[47] A recent study done by the University of Tennessee reported that as many as 100 million acres (400,000 km², or 154,000 sq. miles), of cropland and pasture will need to be allocated to switchgrass production in order to offset petroleum use by 25 percent.^[48]

Currently, corn is easier and less expensive to process into ethanol in comparison to cellulosic ethanol. The Department of Energy estimates that it costs about $2.20 per gallon to produce cellulosic ethanol, which is twice as much as ethanol from corn. Enzymes that destroy plant cell wall tissue cost 30 to 50 cents per gallon of ethanol compared to 3 cents per gallon for corn.^[49] The Department of Energy hopes to reduce this cost to $1.07 per gallon by 2012 to be effective. However, cellulosic biomass is cheaper to produce than corn, because it requires fewer inputs, such as energy, fertilizer, herbicide, and is accompanied by less soil erosion and improved soil fertility. Additionally, nonfermentable and unconverted solids left after making ethanol can be burned to provide the fuel needed to operate the conversion plant and produce electricity. Energy used to run corn-based ethanol plants is derived from coal and natural gas. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance estimates the cost of cellulosic ethanol from the first generation of commercial plants will be in the $1.90–$2.25 per gallon range, excluding incentives. This compares to the current cost of $1.20–$1.50 per gallon for ethanol from corn and the current retail price of over $4.00 per gallon for Regular Gasoline (which is subsidized and taxed).^[50]

One of the major reasons for increasing the use of biofuels is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[51] In comparison to gasoline, ethanol burns cleaner with a greater efficiency, thus putting less carbon dioxide and overall pollution in the air. Additionally, only low levels of smog are produced from combustion.^[52] According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ethanol from cellulose reduces green house gas emission by 90 percent, when compared to gasoline and in comparison to corn-based ethanol which decreases emissions by 10 to 20 percent.^[48] Carbon dioxide gas emissions are shown to be 85% lower than those from gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol contributes little to the greenhouse effect and has a five times better net energy balance than corn-based.^[52] When used as a fuel, cellulosic ethanol releases less sulfur, carbon monoxide, particulates, and greenhouse gases. Cellulosic ethanol should earn producers carbon reduction credits, higher than those given to producers who grow corn for ethanol, which is about 3 to 20 cents per gallon.^[49]

It takes 0.76 J of energy from fossil fuels to produce 1 J worth of ethanol from corn.^[53] This total includes the use of fossil fuels used for fertilizer, tractor fuel, ethanol plant operation, etc. Research has shown that 1 gallon of fossil fuel can produce over 5 gallons of ethanol from prairie grasses, according to Terry Riley, President of Policy at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The United States Department of Energy concludes that corn-based ethanol provides 26 percent more energy than it requires for production, while cellulosic ethanol provides 80 percent more energy.^[48] Cellulosic ethanol yields 80 percent more energy than is required to grow and convert it.^[54] The process of turning corn into ethanol requires about 1,700 gallons of water for every 1 gallon of ethanol produced. Additionally, each gallon of ethanol leaves behind 12 gallons of waste that must be disposed.^[55] Grain ethanol uses only the edible portion of the plant. Expansion of corn acres for the production of ethanol poses threats to biodiversity. Corn lacks a strong root system, therefore, when produced, it causes soil erosion. This has a direct effect on soil particles, along with excess fertilizers and other chemicals, washing into local waterways, damaging water quality and harming aquatic life. Planting riparian areas can serve as a buffer to waterways, and decrease runoff.

Cellulose is not used for food and can be grown in all parts of the world. The entire plant can be used when producing cellulosic ethanol. Switchgrass yields twice as much ethanol per acre than corn.^[48] Therefore, less land is needed for production and thus less habitat fragmentation. Biomass materials require fewer inputs, such as fertilizer, herbicides, and other chemicals that can pose risks to wildlife. Their extensive roots improve soil quality, reduce erosion, and increase nutrient capture. Herbaceous energy crops reduce soil erosion by greater than 90%, when compared to conventional commodity crop production. This can translate into improved water quality for rural communities. Additionally, herbaceous energy crops add organic material to depleted soils and can increase soil carbon, which can have a direct effect on climate change.^[56] As compared to commodity crop production, biomass reduces surface runoff and nitrogen transport. Switchgrass provides an environment for diverse wildlife habitation, mainly insects and ground birds. Conservation Resource Program (CRP) land is composed of perennial grasses, which are used for cellulosic ethanol, and may be available for use.

Feedstocks

Switchgrass is a native prairie grass of "the tall grass prairie", in contrast to the short grass of the "high plains". Known for its hardiness and rapid growth, this perennial grows during the warm months to heights of 2–6 feet. Switchgrass can be grown in most parts of the United States, including swamplands, plains, streams, and along the shores & interstate highways. It is self-seeding (no tractor for sowing, only for mowing), resistant to many diseases and pests, & can produce high yields with low applications of fertilizer and other chemicals. It is also tolerant to poor soils, flooding, & drought; improves soil quality and prevents erosion due its type of root system.^[57]

Switchgrass is an approved cover crop for land protected under the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP is a government program that pays producers a fee for not growing crops on land on which crops recently grew. This program reduces soil erosion, enhances water quality, and increases wildlife habitat. CRP land serves as a habitat for upland game, such as pheasants and ducks, and a number of insects. Switchgrass for biofuel production has been considered for use on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, which could increase ecological sustainability and lower the cost of the CRP program. However, CRP rules would have to be modified to allow this economic use of the CRP land.^[57] The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary, Federal assistance program of the United States Department of Agriculture. ...

Miscanthus x giganteus is another viable feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. This species of grass is native to Asia and is the sterile triploid hybrid of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. It can grow up to 12 feet tall with little water or fertilizer input. Miscanthus is similar to switchgrass with respect to cold and drought tolerance and water use efficiency. Miscanthus is commercially grown in the European Union as a combustible energy source.

Cellulosic ethanol (Ceetol) commercialization

Main article: Cellulosic ethanol commercialization

Cellulosic ethanol commercialization can contribute to a successful renewable fuels future. Three phases of ethanol commercialization are emerging. ...

Companies such as Iogen, Broin, and Abengoa are all building refineries that can process biomass and turn it into ethanol, while companies such as Diversa, Novozymes, and Dyadic are producing enzymes and Butalco^[58] is developing improved yeast strains, which could enable a cellulosic ethanol future. The shift from food crop feedstocks to waste residues and native grasses offers significant opportunities for a range of players, from farmers to biotechnology firms, and from project developers to investors.^[59] Iogen Corporation (sometimes called simply Iogen) is a Canadian company located in Ottawa, Ontario. ... Abengoa is a Spanish multinational corporation, which includes companies in the domains of energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the environment. ... Diversa prospects in hot springs. ... Novozymes (CSE: NZYM-B) is a biotech-based company and the world’s largest producer of industrial enzymes and microorganisms, with a market share of approximately 46% for enzymes and approximately 50% for microorganisms (2006)[1]. The company’s products are used in more than 40 different industries to improve...

A biorefinery built to produce 1.4 million gallons of ethanol a year from cellulosic biomass has opened in Jennings, LA. Built by Verenium, based in Cambridge, MA, the plant makes ethanol from agricultural waste left over from processing sugarcane. ^[60] Jennings is a city located in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. ... Harvard Square, May 2000 Cambridge is a city in the greater Boston area in Massachusetts, United States. ... Species Saccharum arundinaceum Saccharum bengalense Saccharum edule Saccharum officinarum Saccharum procerum Saccharum ravennae Saccharum robustum Saccharum sinense Saccharum spontaneum Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical...

Gulf Ethanol Corporation [3] (GFET) announced in June 2008 that it has established an R&D facility dedicated to refining the design of its cellulosic feedstock preprocessor. Cellulosic feedstock is used to produce ethanol from non-food products.

The new facility will be focused on enhancing the system for commercial delivery as a solution for cellulosic feedstock processing in ethanol production. Equipment and feedstocks are being acquired to analyze the throughput capacity, energy requirements, and scalability of the system. This equipment can improve the efficiencies of cellulosic feedstock and provide ethanol producers with an alternative to corn. Initial experiences with components of the system lead the company to believe that the system will significantly improve process times and net ethanol yield from cellulosic feedstocks

An ethanol production plant, capable of producing fifty million gallons of ethanol per year, is projected to continuously require the equivalent of a truckload of sorghum every five minutes. Initial experiences with components of the system indicate that large quantities could be processed with cost effective energy consumption. The focus of the R&D facility will be to quantify the precise parameters of the systems operations and evaluate the engineering requirements to scale the unit to handle the quantities of feedstock that a commercially viable cellulosic ethanol plant would require.

Related Fields To Cellulosic Ethanol

• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Agriculture

For other uses, see Biology (disambiguation). ... Insulin crystals Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ...

Prominent cellulosic ethanol researchers

This section does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

• Bruce Dale, Michigan State University
  • 2007 USDA Sterling B. Hendricks memorial lecturer[4]
  • 1996 Charles D. Scott awardee [5]
  • The Inventor of Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) pretreatment [6]
  • Fourteen US international patent holder [7]
  • Among the group of ten experts from industry, academia and government lab who was invited to brief President Bush on biofuels [8]
• Nancy Ho, Purdue University
• Mark Holtzapple, Texas A&M University
  • 1996 Presidential Green Chemistry awardee
• Lonnie Ingram, University of Florida IFAS
  • 2007 Charles D. Scott awardee[9]
  • Member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2001)[10]
  • Fellow of Society of Industrial Microbiology (2001)[11]
  • Twelve U.S. Patents holder including the landmark patent 5,000,000 on an important breakthrough on metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli to utilize virtually all sugars from lignocellulosic materials for ethanol production [12]
• Lee Lynd, Dartmouth College
• J.H. David Wu, University of Rochester
• Eckhard Boles, Goethe-University of Frankfurt
  • Seven international patents holder including the patent describing the first recombinant yeast able to ferment the lignocellulosic sugar L-arabinose [13][14]
• Charles E. Wyman, University of California, Riverside
• Mark A. Emalfarb, Founder of Dyadic International, Inc.
• George Huber, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Guido Zacchi, Lund University

Michigan State University (MSU) is a co-educational public research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act. ... Purdue redirects here. ... Texas A&M University redirects here. ... The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. ... Dartmouth College is a private, coeducational university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Incorporated as Trustees of Dartmouth College,[6][7] it is a member of the Ivy League and one of the nine colonial colleges founded before the American Revolution. ... The University of Rochester (UR) is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian research university located in Rochester, New York. ... Lund University (Swedish: ), located in Lund in southernmost Sweden, is one of Swedens most prestigious universities[2] and Scandinavias largest institution for education and research[3], frequently ranked among the worlds top 100 universities[4][5]. The university was founded in 1666 and is the second oldest...

Development timeline

• 1998 US Patent # 5,811,381 — Cellulase Compositions And Methods Of Use. - Methods of use for the cellulase compositions of the saccharification of lignocellulose biomass from agriculture, forest products, muicipal solid waste and other sources.[15]
• 2003 US Patent # 6,573,086 — Transformation System In The Field Of Filamentous Fungal Hosts. - Engineering filamentous fungi to produce low cost efficient enzyme mixtures to convert lignocellulose (biomass or energy crops) into fermntable sugars such as glucose and xylose [16]
• 2005 — Fungus functions as lab and factory for protein [17]
• 2006 — Design of Highly Efficient Cellulase Mixtures for Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose [18]
• 2006 — US Patent # 7,122,330 - High-Throughput Screening of Expressed DNA Libraries in Filamentous Fungi — use of robotics to identify and create new and better genes that encode for cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes that can be inserted into fungi or other organisms for use in the conversion of lignocellulose (biomass or energy crops) into fermentable sugars [19]
• 2006 — BIO CEO and Investor Conference, February 13-15, 2006 at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
• 2006 — Industrial Biotech Gains Momentum, Growth of commercial enzyme-mediated processes points to the future of the chemical industry; April 3, 2006 [20]
• 2006 — Exploiting Fungal Factories for Future Energy [21]
• 2006 — Cradle of innovation Although it's starting late, Florida has minds and the raw materials tobecome a leader in alternative energy research and a.. September 10, 2006 [22]
• - Beyond corn: Ethanol's next generation, Scientists seek cheap, plentiful energy alternatives October,13 2006 [23]
• 2006 — Bear Stearns Second Annual Commodities and Capital Goods Conference, Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Biofuels – Prospect of Future Technologies
• 2006 — "US biofuels: A field in ferment" - Nature 444, 673-676 (7 December 2006) | doi:10.1038/444673a; Published online 6 December 2006 [24]
• 2006 — Put A Termite In Your Tank December 18, 2006 [25]
• 2007 — Ethanol Producer Magazine January 2007 "The Discoverer's Game" [26]
• 2007 — BIO CEO & Investor Conference February 12, 2007 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City,
• 2007 — World Biofuels Markets Congress, Brussels,Belgium March 12-14 2008 - [27]
• 2007 — Dyadic, Int.: The Making of Cellulosic Ethanol[28]
• 2007 — The Energy Challenge A Renewed Push for Ethanol, Without the Corn, NY Times April 17, 2007 [29]

is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

See also

Energy portal

• Algae fuel
• Biofuel
• Biorefinery
• Butanol
• Butanol fuel
• Carbon Negative
• Cellulosic ethanol commercialization
• Cellulosome
• China Resources Alcohol Corporation
• Coskata
• Non food crops
• SunOpta
• Treethanol
• Verenium Corporation

Image File history File links Crystal_128_energy. ... Bio-energy redirects here. ... A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and value-added chemicals from biomass. ... Butanol or butyl alcohol (sometimes also called biobutanol when produced biologically), is an alcohol with a 4 carbon structure and the molecular formula of C4H10O. It is primarily used as a solvent, as an intermediate in chemical synthesis, and as a fuel. ... Butanol may be used as a fuel in an internal combustion engine. ... Three phases of ethanol commercialization are emerging. ... Cellulosomes are complexes of enzymes created by bacteria such as Clostridium and Bacteroides, but functioning outside the cell. ... China Resources Alcohol Corporation (CRAC) is the second largest ethanol producer in China and the owner of the only cellulosic ethanol pilot demonstration plant in the world which operates continuously, 24-hours per day. ... The term non food crops applies to the use of agricultural crops for uses other than human or animal consumption. ... SunOpta (NASDAQ: STKL, TSX: SOY) is a Canadian company. ... Treethanol is Ethanol fuel (more precisely Cellulosic ethanol) made from trees. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Energy Information Administration (EIA), as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, collects and disseminates data on energy reserves, production, consumption, distribution, prices, technology, and related international, economic, and financial matters. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Geographic Magazine, later shortened to National Geographic, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity, is a 2007 book by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder, who argue that commercializing clean technologies is a profitable enterprise which is moving steadily into mainstream business. ...

External links

• Switchgrass Fuel Yields Bountiful Energy.
• Ethanol From Cellulose: A General Review — P.C. Badger, 2002
• US DOE page on cellulosic ethanol production via enzymatic hydrolysis
• BiobasedNews.com
• US DOE page on cellulosic ethanol production via synthesis gas fermentation
• Rocky Mountain Institute page on ethanol
• The "Wood-Ethanol Report" by Environment Canada, 1999, re-published by the Journey to Forever web site.
• US Senate committee hearing statement from Dr. Michael Pacheco, including current costs and expected costs of producing cellulosic ethanol.
• DOE Selects Six Cellulosic Ethanol Plants for Up to $385 Million in Federal Funding February 28, 2007
• The numbers behind ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, and biodiesel in the U.S. by Maywa Montenegro, Grist Magazine, 4 December 2006
• A list of cellulolytic bacteria
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Research Advances – Cellulosic Ethanol.
• New Enzymes for Biopulping
• USDA Forest Products Laboratory — Research you can use!

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