Hydrolysis of Cellulose Wastes: Feasibility of Fuel Ethanol as Alternative to Gasoline from Petroleum as a Usable Energy Source in Nigeria

It is generally believed that fossil fuel aside its environmental implications in terms of its high carbon emissions and pollution characteristics is rapidly depleting. New energy source that is not only abundant in supply but more fungible in today’s value chain and with potential as future green fuel is required to fill the gap. Research has shown that biomass possesses such characteristics to serve as alternative to the fossil fuel energy. Of all the fuels gotten from biomass, Ethanol is the most common and widely used. Ethanol was originally produced to serve as wine and for medicine, but today the use of ethanol are many ranging from production of organic chemicals to source of organic energy for heating, lighting and locomotion. Ethanol apart from synthesis is prepared from agricultural biomass by conventional method. Conventional methods as applied in many farms are expensive and has greatly increased the cost of food because of competition between consumers and industrialist for raw food materials. A modification of this method, use of cellulose waste and development of an efficient technology are necessary for cheap production, if ethanol is to be used, in place of gasoline. The paper discusses the various methods, techniques, technology, and reaction conditions necessary to produce low price ethanol, and at the same time surveys the possibility of the use of ethanol as alternative to gasoline as a usable energy source.