Potential Bioethanol Research Articles

Characterization of Performance of Short Stroke Engines with Valve Timing for Blended Bioethanol Internal Combustion

The present study provides a feasible strategy for minimizing automotive CO2 emissions by coupling the principle of the Atkinson cycle with the use of bioethanol fuel. Motor cycles and scooters have a stroke to bore ratio of less than unity, which allows higher speeds. The expansion to compression ratio (ECR) of these engines can be altered by tuning the opening time of the intake and exhaust valves. The effect of ECR on fuel consumption and the feasibility of ethanol fuels are still not clear, especially for short stroke engines. Hence, in this study, the valve timing of a short stroke engine was tuned in order to explore potential bioethanol applications. The effect of valve timing on engine performance was theoretically and experimentally investigated. In addition, the application of ethanol/gasoline blended fuels, E3, E20, E50, and E85, were examined. The results show that consumption, as well as engine performance of short stroke motorcycle engines, can be improved by correctly setting the valve controls. In addition, ethanol/gasoline blended fuel can be used up to a composition of 20% without engine modification. The ignition time needs to be adjusted in fuel with higher compositions of blended ethanol. The fuel economy of a short stroke engine cannot be sharply improved using an Atkinson cycle, but CO2 emissions can be reduced using ethanol/gasoline blended fuel. The present study demonstrates the effect of ECR on the performance of short stroke engines, and explores the feasibility of applying ethanol/gasoline blended fuel to it.

Potential bioethanol production from sweet sorghum on marginal land in China

Sweet sorghum is one of the best renewable non-grain energy crops for ethanol production due to its high sugar content, short growing period and good tolerance to natural conditions. However, insufficient studies have been conducted on the spatial distribution of sweet sorghum-based bioethanol production potential. This study presents a method, i.e., a land surface process model (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate GIS-based (GEPIC) model) coupled with a life cycle analysis (LCA), to simulate the spatial distribution of potential bioethanol production, energy efficiency and environmental impacts throughout the whole life cycle of sweet sorghum-based ethanol. The results showed that approximately 49.65 million ha of marginal land in China were suitable for sweet sorghum planting, and more than 13.57 million tons of sweet sorghum could be yielded. Based on sweet sorghum, 847.81 thousand tons of ethanol could be produced. A potential net energy gain of 115 billion MJ which is equivalent to 2.38 million tons of 90-octane gasoline would be achieved if all marginal lands could be used. The results of the environmental impact assessment showed that the total environmental effect index was 0.25 million (population equivalents). The global warming potential was the most significant environmental impact category. Guizhou Province can be given priority for sweet sorghum-based bioethanol development in China.

Potentials for increased application of renewables in the transportation system: A case study for Södermanland County, Sweden

In this study, possible alternations in a regional transport sector are assessed to increase the use of renewable resources. Three scenarios are developed aimed to investigate different alternatives including potential straw-based bioethanol supply to fuel regional cars with combustion engines, more use of Electrical Vehicles (EVs) with use of potential power from solar energy, and the feasibility of application of hybrid cars fueled with electricity and bioethanol. The evaluation considers the reduction in CO2 emissions and increased balance in energy demand and supply. Results of the study indicate that application of hybrid vehicles with bioethanol-fueled engines and electrical motors could potentially reduce the CO2 emissions compared with other proposed approaches in the studied scenarios. At the same time, there would be a balance in the system, so that, the potential bioethanol supply from the available cereal straw in the region can meet the energy demand of suggested hybrid cars in wintertime. While, the energy supply from the grid-connected solar cells installed on the rooftop of the buildings can cover the electricity need of the motor during summer. This approach will also result in increased use of renewables in the transportation system.

Bioethanol potential of raw and hydrothermally pretreated banana bulbs biomass in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Residual banana bulbs (RBB) were characterized and assessed as a potential starch and cellulose-based feedstock for bioethanol production. To facilitate the enzymatic digestibility, hydrothermal pretreatment was performed on RBB prior to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Composition of RBB was similar to traditional starch and cellulose-based feedstocks with high glucan (60 g/100 gDM) and relatively low lignin content (7 g/100 gDM). Both amylase and cellulase were needed to efficiently hydrolyze RBB. The highest ethanol yield (310 kg EtOH/ton_DM_RBB, 93% of theoretical production based on total available glucose) was obtained with non-pretreated RBB. SSF can be carried out at lower RBB concentrations. Hydrothermal pretreatment affected negatively the bioethanol potential due to the loss of fermentable carbohydrates. In a case study of an African leading producer of bananas and plantains (Cameroon), the energy derived from bioethanol was 80 GWh ethanol/year and corresponded to 1.6% of the annual transportation requirement. This study shows that RBB is a promising alternative feedstock for bioethanol production.

Bioethanol and biomethane potential production of thirteen pluri-annual herbaceous species

The research aimed to study and characterize, in a four-year study, thirteen pluri-annual herbaceous species for their potential bioethanol and biomethane production. The highest biomass yield was obtained with Arundo donax followed by Miscanthus x giganteus. Biomass cellulose content had median values ranging from 23.1% (Symphytum x uplandicum) to 45.4% (Lythrum salicaria), hemicellulose from 9.4% (Iris pseudacorus) to 36.8% (Glyceria maxima) and lignin from 2.6% (G. maxima) to 14.5% (Helianthus tuberosus and L. salicaria). The best ethanol and methane median yields were achieved by A. donax (3.5 Mg ha−1 and 8227 m3 ha−1, respectively) followed by M. x giganteus (3.2 Mg ha−1 and 4446 m3 ha−1, respectively). Methane transformation showed a higher energy output than ethanol with values ranging from 1 GJ ha−1 (Phalaris arundinacea) to 508 GJ ha−1 (A. donax) and from 1 GJ ha−1 (P. arundinacea) to 624 GJ ha−1 (A. donax) for ethanol and methane, respectively. Results showed that A. donax and M. x giganteus are the most interesting species for bioethanol and biomethane production.

Water, Energy, and Carbon Footprints of Bioethanol from the U.S. and Brazil.

Driven by biofuel policies, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase domestic energy supply, global production and consumption of bioethanol have doubled between 2007 and 2016, with rapid growth in corn-based bioethanol in the U.S. and sugar cane-based bioethanol in Brazil. Advances in crop yields, energy use efficiency in fertilizer production, biomass-to-ethanol conversion rates, and energy efficiency in ethanol production have improved the energy balance and GHG emission reduction potential of bioethanol. In the current study, the water, energy, and carbon footprints of bioethanol from corn in the U.S. and sugar cane in Brazil were assessed. The results show that U.S. corn bioethanol has a smaller water footprint (541 L water/L bioethanol) than Brazilian sugar cane bioethanol (1115 L water/L bioethanol). Brazilian sugar cane bioethanol has, however, a better energy balance (17.7 MJ/L bioethanol) and smaller carbon footprint (38.5 g CO2e/MJ) than U.S. bioethanol, which has an energy balance of 11.2 MJ/L bioethanol and carbon footprint of 44.9 g CO2e/MJ. The results show regional differences in the three footprints and highlight the need to take these differences into consideration to understand the implications of biofuel production for local water resources, net energy production, and climate change mitigation.

Ionic-liquid-mediated pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of Prosopis sp. biomass in a consolidated bioprocess for potential bioethanol fuel production

The efficacy of ionic liquid (IL)-based pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass (LB) can be enhanced by simultaneous application of surfactants/salts/deep eutectic solvent (DES) systems which may realize more effectual biorefining of LB to biofuels or other commodities. However, due to inhibitory nature of IL, IL-stable saccharification enzymes (cellulase/xylanase) are desired for enzymatic hydrolysis of IL-pretreated biomass. Bacillus spp. are considered as the super microbial factories for production of commercially important robust enzymes. The current study presents the enhanced production (1.438-fold) of an IL-stable cellulase from a newly isolated IL-tolerant Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SV29 by statistical optimization using agroindustrial residues as carbon (groundnut shell) and nitrogen source (mustard cake). The process variables such as groundnut shell and mustard cake, incubation time, and inoculum size were optimized. The enzyme preparation (cellulase/xylanase) was evaluated for its saccharification potential of Prosopis sp. (twigs/pods) biomass that was pretreated either with IL (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate, EMIMS) standalone or IL along with surfactants/salts/DES systems in a consolidated bioprocess (CBP), i.e., one pot consolidated bioprocess, due to several technoeconomic advantages of the latter. No reported studies are available on bioconversion of Prosopis sp. biomass using IL or CBP. Sugar yield was enhanced when IL was used along with either DES choline chloride glycerol (54.4%) or with FeSO4 (51%). Thus, the pretreatment efficacy of EMIMS is substantially enhanced when used in combination with choline chloride glycerol or FeSO4 for getting increased sugar yield upon enzymatic hydrolysis of Prosopis sp. biomass with IL-stable enzymes.

Comparison of two pretreatments methods to produce second-generation bioethanol resulting from sugarcane bagasse

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is a high carbohydrate-content food obtained by boil evaporation of the sugarcane juice. In the manufacturing process, the by-product of NCS called bagasse is used as foul for the boilers, underestimating its potential as a lignocellulosic source for second-generation bioethanol. In order to assess the bioethanol potential of the by-product resulting from the NCS production, pretreatments were applied to breakdown the lignocellulosic structure for the study in hand. Therefore, this study carried out a comparison of two pretreatment methods steam explosion (SE) and acid hydrolysis (AH) applied to the sugarcane bagasse to produce second-generation bioethanol. It was evidenced that both pretreatments redistribute lignin and hemicelluloses and enhances the accessible surface area of the biomass which further benefitted the subsequent fermentation process as the reducing sugars were available enough to foster the production of bioethanol. The study found that the SE pretreatment was likely to obtain more bioethanol as the reducing sugars (glucose) production outperformed other pretreatments under different residence times and concentrations. Considering the necessity to develop second-generation biofuel production, this study presented the sugarcane bagasse as a promising and abundance lignocellulosic substrate to be investigated more in depth in the Colombian context.

Bioethanol Potential of Energy Sorghum Grown on Marginal and Arable Lands.

Field experiments were conducted in marginal lands, i.e., sub-humid climate and saline-land (SHS) and semi-arid climate and wasteland (SAW), to evaluate ethanol potential based on the biomass yield and chemical composition of biomass type (var. GN-2, GN-4, and GN-10) and sweet type (var. GT-3 and GT-7) hybrids of energy sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in comparison with sub-humid climate and cropland (SHC) in northern China. Results showed that environment significantly (p < 0.05) influenced plant growth, biomass yield and components, and subsequently the ethanol potential of energy sorghum. Biomass and theoretical ethanol yield of the crop grown at SHS (12.2 t ha−1 and 3,425 L ha−1, respectively) and SAW (8.6 t ha−1 and 2,091 L ha−1, respectively) were both statistically (p < 0.001) lower than values at the SHC site (32.6 t ha−1 and 11,853 L ha−1, respectively). Higher desirable contents of soluble sugar, cellulose, and hemicellulose were observed at SHS and SHC sites, while sorghum grown at SAW possessed higher lignin and ash contents. Biomass type sorghum was superior to sweet type as non-food ethanol feedstock. In particular, biomass type hybrid GN-10 achieved the highest biomass (17.4 t ha−1) and theoretical ethanol yields (5,423 L ha−1) after averaging data for all environmental sites. The most productive hybrid, biomass type GN-4, exhibited biomass and theoretical ethanol yields >42.1 t ha−1 and 14,913 L ha−1, respectively, at the cropland SHC site. In conclusion, energy sorghum grown on marginal lands showed a very lower ethanol potential, indicating a considerable lower possibility for being used as commercial feedstock supply when compared with that grown on regular croplands. Moreover, screening suitable varieties may improve energy sorghum growth and chemical properties for ethanol production on marginal lands.

Energy balance and global warming potential of corn straw-based bioethanol in China from a life cycle perspective

ABSTRACTAs the second largest corn producer in this world, China has abundant corn straw resources. The study assessed the energy balance and global warming potential of corn straw-based bioethanol production and utilization in China from a life cycle perspective. The results revealed that bioethanol used as gasoline and diesel blend fuel could reduce global warming potential by 10%–97% and 4%–96%, respectively, as compared to gasoline and diesel for transport. The total global warming potential, net global warming potential, net energy, and Net Energy Ratio per MJ ethanol generated from corn straw-based bioethanol system are estimated to be 0.20 kg CO2-eq, 0.012 kg CO2-eq, 0.60 MJ, and 1.87, respectively. By using sensitivity analysis, we found that the collected coefficient and compressing density of straw have a more obvious influence on energy balance; transportation distance has a more obvious influence on global warming potential emission factor. The by-products may be utilized as fertilizer, animal feed, cement replacement, or high-value lignin chemicals, which make a contribution to offsetting 0.28 MJ per MJ ethanol of energy consumption.

Rhizoclonium grande Bioethanol in Biofuel Production by Transesterification of Jatropha curcas Oil

There is a need for an alternative sustainable fuel based on renewable sources and efficient carbon dioxide scrubbers. Alkyl esters prepared by transesterification of vegetable oils from various plants have been evaluated. In this work the potential of sustainable macroalgae bioethanol in biofuel production by transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil was assessed. Rhizoclonium grande macroalgae was collected from Shimoni shores in Kwale, Shelly beach in Mombasa, Jamvi la Wageni in Mtongwe Likoni, English point near Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Mombasa, dried and processed to obtain 5.36% ± 0.355% v/w bioethanol using Aspergilus niger for hydrolysis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fermentation. J. curcas seeds were collected from contracted farmers of Energy Africa in Shimba hills, Coast region. Oil from the seeds was machine cold pressed and solvent extracted using n-hexane giving 44% - 53%v/w yield. The physicochemical properties of the J. curcas oil were investigated. Transesterification of J. curcas oil was carried out using bioethanol from the algae with 63% - 70% FAEE yield. Characterisation of the bioethanol and ethyl esters was done using GC-MS. Physicochemical and fuel properties of the biofuel were investigated at Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Government Chemist and Kenya Pipeline Laboratories in Mombasa. There was significant difference in physicochemical and fuel properties observed in density, calorific value, kinematic viscosity, pour point and cloud point between the Jatropha oil and Jatropha fatty acid ethyl esters (JAT FAEE) samples. No significant difference observed in the physicochemical and fuel properties between the JAT FAEE and standard biodiesel samples. This was according to statistical analysis of data done using STATA/SE 13.0 and Xlstat at 95% confidence level (P < 0.05) two-tailed. From the findings bioethanol from R. grande biomass used in transesterification has a potential to improve the sustainability, physicochemical and fuel properties of biofuel from J. curcas a non-food crop. The effect of the use of bioethanol and its byproduct on shelf life of the biofuel can further be investigated.

Improving Biomass and Ethanol Yield by Intercropping a Winter Cereal with Corn

Core Ideas Incorporation of a cover crop improved ethanol and biomass yield regardless of harvest time. Stover‐only treatments yielded greater ethanol and biomass when harvest in the fall. Despite differences in fermentable sugars among feedstocks, biomass yield was the strongest driver of per hectare ethanol yield. Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is readily available and can be used as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol. The addition of a winter annual cereal crop to the corn stover system could increase potential ethanol yield by adding harvestable biomass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential bioethanol yield resulting from the harvest of mixed stands of corn stover interseeded with winter cereals. The winter cereal crop factor consisted of three treatments; cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), and no winter cereal crop (control). The harvest time factor consisted of two treatments; a two‐harvest system (fall + spring), and a one‐harvest system (fall or spring). Two‐harvest feedstock ethanol content [EtOH] was the greatest (0.305 kg kg−1 and 0.307k g kg−1) followed by the spring‐harvested stover (0.201 kg kg−1). Biomass production and [EtOH] were then multiplied to calculate ethanol yields. Ethanol yield (L ha−1) decreased by 47% when stover‐only feedstock was harvested in the spring compared to the fall. When only considering a single harvest system, incorporation of a cover crop did improve ethanol yield by 242 L ha−1 at spring harvest. The two‐harvest mixed feedstock system was the most productive with 41.8% greater ethanol yield when compared to the single harvest. Overall, the mixed biomass feedstocks resulting from the incorporation of a winter annual cereal with corn stover improved biomass yield and [EtOH] relative to stover‐only feedstocks.

FERMENTATION OF BIOETHANOL FROM THE BIOMASS HYDROLYZATE OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH USING SELECTED YEAST ISOLATES

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential of yeast-producing bioethanol from few type of grapes and durians.Methods: The isolation of potential yeast was carried out from five different types of fruits, namely, red grape, black grape, durian Medan, durianBangkok, and durian Monthong. Optimum fermentation condition was obtained by comparing shaking and non-shaking, detoxifying the hydrolysate,varying temperature, and concentration of N source in the culture medium.Results: The results of an analysis using gas chromatography showed that the ideal conditions for the fermentation of bioethanol were at a temperaturebelow room temperature (+220°C), without shaking, using the hydrolysate, without detoxification, and with a 1% concentration of ammonium acetateas a source of N. Among the isolates, isolate DM1 obtained from durian Medan showed a strong potential to produce bioethanol but at lower levelsthan Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The concentration of ethanol produced was 0.241%.Conclusion: A yeast isolate with a strong potential to produce bioethanol was discovered as the DM1, which isolated from Medanese durian. Theisolate produced 0.241% bioethanol. However, fermentation optimization efforts using an oil palm empty fruit bunch hydrolysate substrate did notyield higher concentrations.

Comparison of bioethanol production from cultivated versus wild Gracilaria verrucosa and Gracilaria gigas

The seaweed genus Gracilaria is a potential candidate for the production of bioethanol due to its high carbohydrate content. Gracilaria is abundant throughout the world and can be found in both wild and cultivated forms. Differences in the ecological factors such as temperature, salinity, and light intensity affecting wild and cultivated specimens may influence the biochemical content of seaweeds, including the carbohydrate content. This study aimed to investigate the proximate composition and potential bioethanol production of wild and cultivated G. gigas and G. verrucosa. Bioethanol was produced using separate hydrolysis fermentation (SHF), employing a combination of enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, followed by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 200062. The highest carbohydrate content was found in wild G. gigas. The highest galactose and glucose contents (20.21 ± 0.32 and 9.70 ± 0.49 g L−1, respectively), as well as the highest production of bioethanol (3.56 ± 0.02 g L−1), were also found in wild G. gigas. Thus, we conclude that wild G. gigas is the most promising candidate for bioethanol production. Further research is needed to optimize bioethanol production from wild G. gigas. Domestication of wild G. gigas is a promising challenge for aquaculture to avoid overexploitation of this wild seaweed resource.

Characterization of structural cell wall polysaccharides in cattail (Typha latifolia): Evaluation as potential biofuel feedstock

Second generation bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass is attracting attention as an alternative energy source. In this study, a detailed knowledge of the composition and structure of common cattail (Typha latifolia L.) cell wall polysaccharides, obtained from stem or leaves, has been conducted using a wide set of techniques to evaluate this species as a potential bioethanol feedstock. Our results showed that common cattail cellulose content was high for plants in the order Poales and was accompanied by a small amount of cross-linked polysaccharides. A high degree of arabinose-substitution in xylans, a high syringyl/guaiacyl ratio in lignin and a low level of cell wall crystallinity could yield a good performance for lignocellulose saccharification. These results identify common cattail as a promising plant for use as potential bioethanol feedstock. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-depth analysis to be conducted of lignocellulosic material from common cattail.

An experimental study on soot distribution characteristics of ethanol-gasoline blends in laminar diffusion flames

In view of the potential of bio-ethanol as an alternative fuel and the particulate matter (PM) issues during gasoline combustion, the soot distribution characteristics of ethanol-gasoline blends in laminar diffusion flames were studied on a Gülder liquid burner using the two-color laser induced incandescence (TC-LII) technique. During the experiments, the ethanol ratio in the blends was varied from 20% to 80% by volume in order to investigate quantitatively the soot reduction potential of ethanol. In order to study the effect of reduction in carbon content due to ethanol addition on soot formation, the experiments were performed under a fixed fuel mass flow rate and a fixed carbon mass flow rate. It was found that both peak and average soot volume fraction in the flame reduced significantly with increasing ethanol content under both fuel supplying modes, however, this effect was progressively less pronounced as ethanol content increased. By comparing the two fueling modes, it was found that the reduction in carbon content due to ethanol addition has little impact on soot reduction. For a given ethanol blending ratio, the soot reduction under the same carbon mass flow rate was only slightly smaller than that under the same fuel mass flow rate. In terms of flame characteristics, the initial height of soot formation increases with increasing ethanol content under both fuel supply modes mainly due to the increased fuel outlet velocity. Radially, the peak soot location moves from the outside towards the center gradually as height increases. However, along the center line of the flame, the initial height of soot formation decreases with increasing ethanol content under the same fuel flow rate, whereas the trend remained similar to that in the whole flame under the same carbon flow rate.

Net primary productivity, biofuel production and CO2 emissions reduction potential of Ulva sp. (Chlorophyta) biomass in a coastal area of the Eastern Mediterranean

Offshore grown macroalgae biomass could provide a sustainable feedstock for biorefineries. However, tools to assess its potential for producing biofuels, food and chemicals are limited. In this work, we determined the net annual primary productivity (NPP) for Ulva sp. (Chlorophyta), using a single layer cultivation in a shallow, coastal site in Israel. We also evaluated the implied potential bioethanol production under literature based conversion rates. Overall, the daily growth rate of Ulva sp. was 4.5±1.1%, corresponding to an annual average productivity of 5.8±1.5gDWm−2day−1. In comparison, laboratory experiments showed that under nutrients saturation conditions Ulva sp. daily growth rate achieved 33±6%. The average NPP of Ulva sp. offshore was 838±201gCm−2year−1, which is higher than the global average of 290gCm−2year−1NPP estimated for terrestrial biomass in the Middle East. These results position Ulva sp. at the high end of potential crops for bioenergy under the prevailing conditions of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. We found that with 90% confidence, with the respect to the conversion distribution, the annual ethanol production from Ulva sp. biomass, grown in a layer reactor is 229.5g ethanol m−2year−1.This translates to an energy density of 5.74MJm−2year−1 and power density of 0.18Wm−2. Growth intensification, to the rates observed at the laboratory conditions, with currently reported conversion yields, could increase, with 90% confidence, the annual ethanol production density of Ulva sp. to 1735gethanolm−2year−1, which translates to an energy density of 43.5MJm−2year−1 and a power density 1.36Wm−2. Based on the measured NPP, we estimated the size of offshore area allocation required to provide biomass for bioethanol sufficient to replace 5–100% of oil used in transportation in Israel. We also performed a sensitivity analysis on the biomass productivity, national CO2 emissions reduction, ethanol potential, feedstock costs and sizes of the required allocated areas.

Kinetics of Bioethanol Production from Waste Sorghum Leaves Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4743

Kinetic models for bioethanol production from waste sorghum leaves by Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4743 are presented. Fermentation processes were carried out at varied initial glucose concentrations (12.5–30.0 g/L). Experimental data on cell growth and substrate utilisation fit the Monod kinetic model with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.95. A maximum specific growth rate (μmax) and Monod constant (KS) of 0.176 h−1 and 10.11 g/L, respectively, were obtained. The bioethanol production data fit the modified Gompertz model with an R2 value of 0.98. A maximum bioethanol production rate (rp,m) of 0.52 g/L/h, maximum potential bioethanol concentration (Pm) of 17.15 g/L, and a bioethanol production lag time (tL) of 6.31 h were observed. The obtained Monod and modified Gompertz coefficients indicated that waste sorghum leaves can serve as an efficient substrate for bioethanol production. These models with high accuracy are suitable for the scale-up development of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as sorghum leaves.

Switchgrass-Based Bioethanol Productivity and Potential Environmental Impact from Marginal Lands in China

Switchgrass displays an excellent potential to serve as a non-food bioenergy feedstock for bioethanol production in China due to its high potential yield on marginal lands. However, few studies have been conducted on the spatial distribution of switchgrass-based bioethanol production potential in China. This study created a land surface process model (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate GIS (Geographic Information System)-based (GEPIC) model) coupled with a life cycle analysis (LCA) to explore the spatial distribution of potential bioethanol production and present a comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency and environmental impacts throughout its whole life cycle. It provides a new approach to study the bioethanol productivity and potential environmental impact from marginal lands based on the high spatial resolution GIS data, and this applies not only to China, but also to other regions and to other types of energy plant. The results indicate that approximately 59 million ha of marginal land in China are suitable for planting switchgrass, and 22 million tons of ethanol can be produced from this land. Additionally, a potential net energy gain (NEG) of 1.75 x 106 million MJ will be achieved if all of the marginal land can be used in China, and Yunnan Province offers the most significant one that accounts for 35% of the total. Finally, this study obtained that the total environmental effect index of switchgrass-based bioethanol is the equivalent of a population of approximately 20,300, and a reduction in the global warming potential (GWP) is the most significant environmental impact.

POTENSI PENGEMBANGAN SORGUM SEBAGAI PANGAN ALTERNATIF, PAKAN TERNAK DAN BIOENERGI DI ACEH

This study aims to introduce sorghum and its potential as an alternative food, fodder and also a source of energy in the form of bioethanol. This activity targets the absence of accurate information about the sorghum varieties suitable for all of the end product of sorghum. Adaptability allows sorghum to be planted on marginal lands without having to compete against the land with important agricultural crops. The observed variables including generative morphological traits and yield components and the potential of bioethanol will be produced. The study of variables of the generative traits (plant height, panicle length, and panicle weight) and yield components (weight of 100 seeds / plot and seed dry weight / plot) shows that the three varieties tested responded well to the environment is growing. Varieties Pahat indicates growth response and the best results followed by Kawali and UPCA. Pahat is more likely to be studied and developed in Aceh.