Ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass: a comparisonbetween conversion technologies

摘要

The conversion of biomass into biofuels can increase fuel flexibility and reducethe related strategic vulnerability of petroleum based transportation fuelsystems. Bioethanol has received considerable attention over the last years as afuel extender or even neat liquid fuel. Lignocellulosic materials are veryattractive substrates for the production of bioethanol because of their low costand their huge potential availability. In this paper two different processalternatives for the production of fuel ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstock areconsidered through a first-principle model of the process. The main objective isthe analysis of the energy balance of the different production processes.