Second Generation Bio-Ethanol
Bio-fuel technologies are competent to derived Bio-fuel from Biomass. These wide-ranging variety of any source of organic carbon that is renewable rapidly as part of the carbon cycle. Biomass material can be from plants and even animals. Development of Second Generation of Bio-Ethanol is because of the many limitations of First Generation Bio-Ethanol. The usefulness of First Generation Bio-Ethanol as an alternative fuel source, however it is limited in the case. They cannot produce enough Bio-fuel without threatening food supplies and the biodiversity. Besides first generation are currently not cost competitive with existing non-renewable fuel source, and are depended on subsidies. Besides that limited amount of arable land that can be devoted to farm Bio-Ethanol feedstock and not all countries is Agricultural Based, example Singapore.
Second Generation Bio-Ethanol is able to offer alternative production of Bio-Ethanol, supplying a larger proportion of fuel supply in a sustainable, affordable and environmental manner. The goal of Second Generation Bio-Ethanol is to increase the supply of Bio-Ethanol that can be produced from using biomass from variety of sources. It can be from residual non-food part of crops such as stem, leaves and husk that are consider waste after food crop has been extracted. As well as industry waste such as woodchips, skins and pulp.
The main problem in Second Generation Bio-Ethanol to extract feedstock from this Biomass is breaking down the long chain of sugar locked in cellulose and lignin into fermentable simple sugar. As all plants contain these complex carbohydrates, Lignocellulosic Ethanol is made by freeing these sugar molecules from cellulose using different process. In this section we will explain the different processes of deriving fermentable sugar, and discuss Second Generation Bio-Ethanol sustainability and challenges faced.
Second Generation Bio-Ethanol Production
There are 2 ways of production Bio-Ethanol from cellulose, Cellulolysis and Gasification. Cellulolysis process will pretreat the lignocellulosic materials followed by hydrolysis (chemical/enzymatic) to break down the cellulose into simple fermentable sugar for fermentation. Gasification which turns the lignocellulosic raw biomass into gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), these gases can be converted into Bio-Ethanol by fermentation.
Pretreatment
Release the complex sugar chain locked inside lignin for the breaking down of sugar in either process.
Enzymatic hydrolysis
Cellulose chain can be broken into glucose molecules by cellulose enzymes. The enzymes produced by bacteria.
Chemical hydrolysis
Acid is used to attack the cellulose. It decrystalized the cellulose, water will hydrolyzed the mixture forming individual sugar molecule.
Gasification
Instead it breaks down the cellulose into sugar molecules, carbon in the raw material is converted into synthesis gas, consist of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (O2).
Fermentation
Yeast and nutrients (ammonia) are added. Biochemical process known as fermentation begins, the yeast metabolizes the sugar and produces carbon dioxide and ethanol.
However fermentation of gasification is different. This process utilizes microbes that ingest the synthesis gas which produces ethanol and water, instead of fermenting sugar with yeast.
Conclusion
This process has sparked the development Second Generation Bio-Ethanol. This production of Bio-Ethanol from alternative source will help in increase of Bio-Ethanol production, and reduces stress in focusing on increasing the productivity of First Generation Bio-Ethanol. However the R&D (Research and Development) of this field is still new. Consistent development and exploration of best method is still in demand to increase the value of this Bio-Ethanol production. Research efforts focus in optimizing Ethanol production by genetically engineered bacteria is vital to increase the economic competitiveness with fossil fuel and increase productivity. Future of Second Generation Bio-Ethanol is only the matter of time.
Future with Second Generation Bio-Ethanol
It holds a strategic nations capability for energy independence and plays a part in climate protection. It requires a robust fusion of the agricultural, biotechnology and leading energy members to create this possibility and future. Many countries seek reduction in their national dependence on imported oil, by accelerating its nation domestic and renewable alternatives. For developing cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy product to substantially replace oil imports in the coming years, countries must have this goal in mind. Fuels derived from cellulosic biomass, offers an alternative to conventional energy source that can dramatically impact the nation’s economic growth, energy security and environmental protection plan. Cellulosic biomass is an attractive energy feedstock for Bio-Ethanol because of its abundance, domestic availability in some countries and it is also a renewable source that can be converted to fuel transportation sector. To ensure this goal is met, barriers had to be defined, challenges to rapid expansion of Cellulosic-Ethanol market must be determined and the ways for most-efficient solutions. This science is not only focuses on Bio-Ethanol, but for the additional fuels that includes Bio-diesel and other Bio-products that have critical roles in this field of development.
The core barrier of Cellulosic-Ethanol energy source that are locked in a complex polymer composite that are naturally created to resist the biological and chemical degradation. Key to energizing this fuel industry is to understand the physical and chemical structures of the plant cell- and to find the best way of deconstruction. With this field of knowledge, specifically designed crops/plant can be harvested for the production of Bio-ethanol.
Strategic goal is to be crafted by government, working towards expanding clean, sustainable energy supplies, while also improving its energy infrastructure, reducing country’s emissions, reduce dependence on foreign oil and promoting green movement. This severely limit to those countries that has these resources and goal. This goal can only be successful with the development of Bio-refinery technologies to a point that they are cost competitive, performance driven and are strongly encouraged to be used by the nation’s transport sector.
Mass production of Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol will hit the road within 5 to 15 years. It is divided into 3 phases, namely Research Phase, Technology Deployment Phase and System Development Phase. The Research Phase involves understanding the nature of feedstock and also the application of genome-based biology. This will provide the key knowledge, concepts and tools for the technology application. Finally, it is to integrate this system to a level which can secure the energy market which can attract the attention of private investment into this area.
