Ethanol - Fuel of the Future

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the possibility of using ethanol as a fuel made from renewable crops. In particular, the paper looks at cellulosic ethanol, which can be produced from agricultural, municipal and forestry waste, corn stalks, sawdust, and waste paper. The author provides a short write up on the chemical qualities and characteristics of ethanol and mentions other countries such as Brazil that have been using ethanol as fuel. The paper advocates the environmental advantages of using ethanol as a renewable alternative fuel and suggests that there should be more support for research on ethanol to be used as fuel on a wide scale.

From the Paper:

"Rumplestiltskin, a well-known fairy tale, tells about a poor miller's daughter who must spin straw into gold or die. Magic only can help her. Today, with rapidly rising gasoline prices, many Americans hope alternative fuels will soon be developed--and are hoping for some similar kind of magic. Bio-fuels could offer the solution to the problem, particularly ethanol. The challenge is to find cost-effective ways to make ethanol out of such renewable resources as corn, soybeans, sugarcane, the stems and leaves of plants, forest cuttings, wood chips, and all the non-food parts of crops that currently are burned or buried."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Deierlein, B. (2001). Alternative fuels: The race is on! Waste Age, 32 (8), Aug, 62-63, 67.
• Dolan, G. A. (2002). In search of the perfect clean-fuel options. Hydrocarbon Processing (International edition), 81 (3), Mar, 13-15.
• E: the Environmental Magazine (2006). Consider the alternatives, 17 (1), Jan-Feb, 38-39.
• Fulton, L. (2005). Biofuels for transport: A viable alternative? The OECD Observer, 249 (41) May, 44-45.
• Gardner, D. (2003). Ethanol campaign fuels interest in Nebraskans' use of alternative fuel. Agri Marketing, 41 (2), Feb., 42-43.

More papers on Ethanol - Fuel of the Future:

• Analytical Essay # 4164 : "The Chemical Composition of Ethanol"
• Analytical Essay # 129002 : "The Economic and Practical Outlook for Biofuels"
• Persuasive Essay # 102143 : "Alternative Fuels"

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