http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-corn-ethanol-be-made-sustainable/
Summary:
Corn produces ethanol, a biofuel that can be harnessed by technology, such as cars. In fact, ethanol from corn has supplied 10 percent of U.S. car fuel supply in the last ten years, which is about 50 billion liters annually. Due to this, there is a new plant expected to operate this year that will ferment ethanol into cobs, stems, and corn husks. Some argue that corn ethanol is now an established energy source and should no longer receive government aid. However, others argue that ethanol usage stalls the use of foreign oil as well, which also hinders new revenue for American farmers to cultivate corn profitably without direct aid. The government wishes to replace corn ethanol from the U.S. fuel mix with a cellulosic ethanol in this new facility. However, quantities of cellulosic ethanol has failed to meet expectations because they were set on quantities of cellulosic material available in lieu of the ability to turn biomass into fuel. Albeit, attempts to develop cellulosic ethanol continue to struggle, many in the biofuel business desire to see more effort in configuring automobiles run on ethanol.
Reflection:
The article is not really clear on how cellulosic ethanol differs from the ethanol that automobiles today use. From prior knowledge via Biology and AP Biology, I recall cellulose being in the cell walls of plants. It enthralls me how a polysaccharide, usually used as a means of structure and protection can be harnessed as energy. Of course, bond breaking and bond forming plays a role, but I just wanted to discuss how this organic chemistry is ever so intriguing. Nevertheless, I digress. I hope the government continues to find biofuels because they are "clean resources". I recognize and acknowledge that there is a business side to this and how ethanol usage could tinker with foreign trade and oil, but I appreciate that the government is attempting to be "greener" even at the possible expense of agricultural profits/trade. I appreciate this because one day, if we all forsaken the Earth's health by doing things such as utilizing these foreign oils that aren't biologically produced, the Earth will be reduced to a state where money and capital will be pointless because there will be nothing to invest in.
Summary:
Corn produces ethanol, a biofuel that can be harnessed by technology, such as cars. In fact, ethanol from corn has supplied 10 percent of U.S. car fuel supply in the last ten years, which is about 50 billion liters annually. Due to this, there is a new plant expected to operate this year that will ferment ethanol into cobs, stems, and corn husks. Some argue that corn ethanol is now an established energy source and should no longer receive government aid. However, others argue that ethanol usage stalls the use of foreign oil as well, which also hinders new revenue for American farmers to cultivate corn profitably without direct aid. The government wishes to replace corn ethanol from the U.S. fuel mix with a cellulosic ethanol in this new facility. However, quantities of cellulosic ethanol has failed to meet expectations because they were set on quantities of cellulosic material available in lieu of the ability to turn biomass into fuel. Albeit, attempts to develop cellulosic ethanol continue to struggle, many in the biofuel business desire to see more effort in configuring automobiles run on ethanol.
Reflection:
The article is not really clear on how cellulosic ethanol differs from the ethanol that automobiles today use. From prior knowledge via Biology and AP Biology, I recall cellulose being in the cell walls of plants. It enthralls me how a polysaccharide, usually used as a means of structure and protection can be harnessed as energy. Of course, bond breaking and bond forming plays a role, but I just wanted to discuss how this organic chemistry is ever so intriguing. Nevertheless, I digress. I hope the government continues to find biofuels because they are "clean resources". I recognize and acknowledge that there is a business side to this and how ethanol usage could tinker with foreign trade and oil, but I appreciate that the government is attempting to be "greener" even at the possible expense of agricultural profits/trade. I appreciate this because one day, if we all forsaken the Earth's health by doing things such as utilizing these foreign oils that aren't biologically produced, the Earth will be reduced to a state where money and capital will be pointless because there will be nothing to invest in.