Polymer Science and Technology

Cellulose for biofuels

Cellulosic ethanol is ethanol (ethyl alcohol) made from cellulose, a stringy fiber found in plants, as opposed to the seeds or fruit of the same plant. It can be made from plants like grass, wood, algae, or other types of plants. The usage of it as a biofuel is frequently considered. Cellulosic ethanol fuel has the potential to have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels because some of the carbon dioxide that is released while burning it is countered by the carbon dioxide that plants absorb as they develop.

Cellulosic ethanol is gaining attention due to its potential to displace ethanol produced from corn or sugarcane. The use of these plants for ethanol production could increase food prices because they are also used to make food products; cellulose-based sources, on the other hand, often do not compete with food because most plant components that are fibrous to humans are not edible. The enormous diversity and quantity of cellulose sources—grasses, trees, and algae are present in practically every ecosystem on Earth—is another possible benefit. It is conceivable to produce ethanol from even the parts of municipal solid refuse like paper. Cellulosic ethanol's high production cost, which is more complicated and time-consuming than ethanol made from corn or sugarcane, is now its biggest drawback.