Cellulosic technology
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Bioenergy > Technologies > Second generation technologies > Cellulosic technology
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Cellulosic technologies are biofuel conversion technologies that can convert cellulosic biomass into liquids. This category includes both biochemical and thermochemical conversion.
- Cellulosic biomass consists of plant matter composed of linked glucose molecules that strengthen the cell walls of most plants. Cellulosic ethanol is usually produced from cellulosic biomass by using acid-based catalysis or enzyme-based reactions to break down plant fibers into sugar, which is then fermented into ethanol.
- According to the Environmental and Energy and Study Institute (EESI), "Cellulose is the most abundant naturally-occurring organic compound on earth and its efficient conversion to renewable energy would represent an important breakthrough."[1]
Papers
- Ethanol from Cellulose: A General Review (PDF) by Badger, P.C., Reprinted from: Trends in new crops and new uses. 2002. J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.). ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
- Sustainable global energy supply based on lignocellulosic biomass from afforestation of degraded areas (PDF) by Jürgen O. Metzger and Aloys Hüttermann, published by Naturwissenschaften, November 2008. Discusses reasons for which afforestation in conjunction with lignocellulosic biomass production on degraded land would serve as a longterm viable contributor to the global energy demand.
News
- Boat-Eating Bug May Hold Key for Future of Biofuels, 9 March 2010 by Gas2.0: "New research out of the University of York in Britain is unraveling some mysteries of the common wood-eating gribble that could provide the key to cheaply turning abundant wood and straw fiber into biofuel."
- "For centuries the gribble has been known to the seafaring world mainly for eating holes in their ships, docks and piers — causing untold amounts of damage. But the bug’s uncanny knack for digesting raw wood holds the promise of enzymes that can, by themselves, turn wood and straw fibers into sugars, which can then be easily turned into ethanol through simple fermentation."
- The "gut of the gribble plays host to some pretty amazing enzymes the creature produces all on its own that accomplish the same things that plasma gasification or toxic chemicals can — but without all the fuss."[2]
- See the research paper, Molecular insight into lignocellulose digestion by a marine isopod in the absence of gut microbes from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- New, "better" biofuels are no magic bullet, 4 June 2008 by Reuters: "commercial production of [second generation] biofuels, for instance using woody cellulose, grasses or algae, is years away" and such biofuels "'are not expected to be produced on a commercial basis' in the next decade, according to a report by the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development."
- Australian researchers develop process to produce stable bio-crude oil, 4 February 2008, from Biopact. Researchers in Australia have found a process that will turn lignocellulosic biomass into bio-oil. The stability of the new bio-oil is an important development.
- Genencor launches first ever commercial enzyme for cellulose ethanol. "Genencor, a division of Danish company Danisco A/S, announced the launch of Accellerase 1000, the first ever commercially available biomass enzyme developed specifically for second generation biorefineries. "
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| Technologies categorized by bioenergy processes: Biochemical: Aerobic, Anaerobic, Landfill gas collection (LFG), Biodiesel production, Ethanol production Technologies categorized by feedstock: Technologies by commercialization status: Analysis of technologies: Life-cycle analysis | ||
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