Biofuels and Bioenergy

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is a clear, colourless liquid with a characteristic smell. Generally people will recognize the smell, as it is a kind of spirit or so-called pure alcohol (which, however, one cannot drink). Bioethanol was previously produced by fermentation and distillation and was primarily based on grain or corn (1st-generation bioethanol). This production was criticized heavily as it was using up food products. In contrast, 2nd-generation bioethanol is normally produced from corn or straw stalks. There is also on-going research and development into the use of municipal solid wastes to produce ethanol fuel. Brazil and the United States account for over 70 per cent of all ethanol production in the world today with the USA producing an estimated 6,500 Million gallons a year. Bioethanol produces only carbon dioxide and water as the waster products on burning, and the carbon dioxide released during fermentation and combustion equals the amount removed from the atmosphere while the crop is growing This fuel is not suitable for use in all cars and you should check compatibility with your vehicle manufacturer before using it. Researchers have recently launched a proposal to cultivate massive amounts of seaweed or algae. They claims that the project could occupy about ten thousand kilometres of seaweed farm and they estimated that the farm would be able to produce bioethanol from algae, as much as 20 million kilolitres or 5.3 billion gallons of bioethanol per year.