Back to cellulose ethanol discussion 9

[0707]

Back to cellulose ethanol discussion:

Conventional ethanol is derived from grains such as corn and wheat or soybeans

As more and more corn grain is diverted to make ethanol, there have been public concerns about food shortages. However, ethanol made from cellulose materials instead of corn grain, renders the food vs. fuel debate moot.

On the other way unexploited categories of cellulose material that will be removed from forests will also reduce the risk of forest fires during the warm season as it happened recently in California.

Cellulose ethanol can be produced from a wide variety of cellulose biomass feedstock including agricultural plant wastes (corn stover, cereal straws, and sugarcane bagasse), plant wastes from industrial processes (sawdust, paper pulp) and energy crops grown specifically for fuel production, such as switch grass.

The "woodchips and stalks" represent resources that are currently available from forestry and agriculture, though very underutilized. One of the largest unexploited categories is wood that needs to be removed from forests to reduce the risk of forest fires. Well over 8 billion dry tons of biomass has been identified by the U.S. Forest Service as needing fuel treatment removal. The amount of this biomass potentially available for bio energy uses is estimated to be about 60 million dry tons annually

In times of fuel shortages, fermentation ethanol has been commercially manufactured in the US from cellulose biomass feedstock using acid hydrolysis techniques. Currently, some countries in locations with higher ethanol and fuel prices are producing ethanol from cellulose feedstock. However, it is only recently that cost-effective technologies for producing ethanol-from-cellulose (EFC) in the US have started to emerge.
There are three basic types of EFC processes—acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, and thermo chemical—with variations for each. The most common is acid hydrolysis. Virtually any acid can be used; however, sulphuric acid is most commonly used since it is usually the least expensive.

There are no commercial plants producing ethanol from cellulose biomass in the world, although cellulose ethanol has been produced during war time by processes featuring acid hydrolysis. Several commercial ventures have been proposed involving selling ethanol produced from cellulose biomass into existing chemical or fuels markets, suggesting that cost-competitive production of ethanol from cellulose biomass in these markets, although not bulk fuel markets, is within reach today. Funding for such ventures has however not been secured to date.


With the actual oil barrel prices it is time to clean “our gardens” and start to produce cellulose ethanol.

Luis marques

 

[davefitz]

starting in 2007, the US diesel rules mandate less than 15 ppm sulphur in on-the -road diesel. Gasoline is 30 ppm sulphur, so you would actually get less sulphur emissions with modern diesel than with gasoline. ( prior to 2007, diesel was 500 ppm sulphur).

The economic problem with allowing everyone to drive a 75 mpg diesel car is that there would be a 66% reduction in highway fuel use taxes, which throws a monkey wrench in the way the highways are financed.

 

[Gymmeh]

BMW, Mercedes and Audi have already announced diesel cars for 2008-2009 that comply with California law.

source:

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/Motor_Shows/Other/0,,1369-2091-2104_2220575,00.html

 

[KENAT]

But dave, you simply increase the tax per gallon to make up the difference, plus this encourages people to use the more efficient vehicles and everyones a winner, right?

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[davefitz]

large diesel rig owners are already howling about fuel taxes. A rig that gets 6 mpg will be paying 10 times per mile as an economy car. Probably fair insofar as damage to the roadbed for large rigs at 10 tons per axle ( which determines road damage and mainteneance costs), but it might not be fair as far as balancing road access and initial road costs go.

 

[csd72]

Davefitz,

Thats another reason why fuel taxes should increase.

 

[patdaly]

You know, I cannot place all the blame on the Consumer. I WANT to find a reasonably priced high MPG car that you can stand to be in for more than an hour. ( Lets not forget I could traverse Europe faster than I can go lengthwise in my State )

You know what? There isn't any! Oh sure, I could lay out 50K for a Mercedes 320, but I cannot justify that. I could also find a used Jetta TDI that is just a bit too small, or I could buy any one of a cadre of 30 Hwy. MPH cars such as the Impala, but they do poorly in city MPG.

Just why is it we do not have a decent sized either Gasoline, or Diesel car that returns good mileage?

Conventional wisdom says the consumer will not buy it, but if it is not offered for sale, just how do you make such a statement? Just TRY and find a decent TDI Volkswagen and see what you pay for a car that the "consumer will not buy".

I have friends in GM who tire of me screaming at them for a competent, high MPG truck and car, and I have started firing off messages to Chrysler goading them to put the C220 4 cylinder Bluetec/ 6 speed combo together for the Charger.

God forbid that GM would actually bring some of its Diesels over here from Europe.

In the end, for the 2009 MY, Honda will deliver the Diesel Accord, and I will end up owning my first Foreign car...... And the big 3 will decry the "unfair competition"