Biomass Refining
The factory must not be far from its feedstock. Experts
state that hauling trees should not require going more than 100 miles (161
km). A storage lot to hold a few days supply for a large refinery would
cover an area equivalent to 2 or 3 football fields with the feedstock rising
3 or 4 meters high. The wastewater will not be toxic and should be suitable
for irrigation.
The market for fuel ethanol is enormous, but ethanol
must compete with gasoline. Alternative fermentation processes have products
of greater value but much smaller markets than ethanol. These products
also reduce our need for imported petroleum.
Logic: Aim at most valuable products
from fermentation of biomass sugars. As technology is perfected, consider
emphasizing fuel ethanol.
Ethanol recovery
N E X T