Evaluation of seven feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production in the northwestern United States of America

摘要

The increasing worldwide demand for energy is generating much interest in finding sustainable fuel supplies for transportation. Cellulosic ethanol, utilizing the most abundant organic molecule on earth, is under development as a renewable liquid fuelfor motor vehicles and other uses. This paper is an investigation of Reed Canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), wheat straw (Triticum species), corn cobs (Zea mays), corn pericarp (Zea mays), waste newspaper and gorse(primarily ulex europaeus) for feasibility as biomass sources for ethanol production. Most of these are common agricultural crops or invasive plants which are adapted to the temperate climatic regions of the United States. The waste newspaper is included as it is a common cellulosic material and similar to the cellulosic materials which are main constituents of municipal solid waste (MSW="garbage"). This paper investigates the potential production of ethanol from these biofeedstocks in Oregon. This isdone through an investigation of availability and laboratory research into ethanol yield from these materials. The laboratory data is combined with production acreage and yield data to estimate the potential for ethanol production in Oregon from these materials.