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Bioethanol: fuel or feedstock?
Author(s) -
RassHansen Jeppe,
Falsig Hanne,
Jørgensen Betina,
Christensen Claus H
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1665
Subject(s) - raw material , biofuel , fossil fuel , commodity chemicals , biomass (ecology) , chemical industry , renewable energy , renewable fuels , waste management , renewable resource , natural resource economics , environmental science , production (economics) , pulp and paper industry , biochemical engineering , business , engineering , chemistry , economics , environmental engineering , ecology , catalysis , biochemistry , electrical engineering , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , biology
Increasing amounts of bioethanol are being produced from fermentation of biomass, mainly to counteract the continuing depletion of fossil resources and the consequential escalation of oil prices. Today, bioethanol is mainly utilized as a fuel or fuel additive in motor vehicles, but it could also be used as a versatile feedstock in the chemical industry. Currently the production of carbon‐containing commodity chemicals is dependent on fossil resources, and more than 95% of these chemicals are produced from non‐renewable carbon resources. The question is: what will be the optimal use of bioethanol in a longer perspective? Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry