Ethanol for Fuel

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the progress of ethanol as a fuel derived from renewable crops. It particularly focuses on cellulosic ethanol, which can be produced from agricultural, municipal and forestry waste, corn stalks, sawdust and waste paper. The paper discusses all of these options, as well as the viability of being able to produce enough to significantly reduce the United States dependence on foreign oil.

Table of Contents:
History of Ethanol
Current Uses of Ethanol
Arguments For and Against Ethanol as a Major Alternative Fuel
Retooling for Ethanol
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"United States would require an "area of energy crops as large as the current area of food crops grown in the United States. Additional land use of this magnitude would be staggering and contentious" (p. 18). According to Haroon S. Kheshgi, an engineer for EXXonMobil Research, nothing will replace petroleum because to run an average U. S. car with corn-derived ethanol for a year would require 14 acres of cropland--about nine times more land than is needed to feed one person the same length of time. Aside from the fact that Kheshgi is invested in the oil industry, this argument, does not consider the use of agricultural waste products as the source or use of the by-products of distilling ethanol. If the land were still used to grow food, and the wastes were used for ethanol, benefits to the environment would be great. Also, if hydrogen power is the ultimate goal, ethanol could be "part of a transition strategy for shifting from today's internal combustion engine technology to tomorrow's hydrogen-based engines" (Issues in Science & Technology, 2002, p. 17)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Advanced Materials & Processes (2005). Industry insider: Automotive, 163 (5), May, 69-70.
• Automotive Industries (2003). Fill'er up, 183 (5), May, 51-53.
• Brown, D. C. (2004). Moving toward alternative fuel vehicles. Public Works, 135 (12) Nov, 34-7.
• 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.

More papers on Ethanol for Fuel:

• Persuasive Essay # 111244 : "Ethanol - Fuel of the Future"
• Research Paper # 107757 : "Ethanol: The Fuel or Food Dilemma"
• Term Paper # 93965 : "Bio-ethanol in Brazil"

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