Time for a refresher on cellulosic ethanol and the cellulosic biomass, i.e.,feedstock, that can be used to produce it.

Here are just some of the energy-efficient feedstocks that can be used (and are starting to be used) to produce cellulosic ethanol:

Fast-growing trees   - sustainable poplar tree farms are one key source of biomass for cellulosic ethanol; short-rotation hybrid aspen (a cross between quaking aspen and European aspen; and short-rotation coppice (SRC) willow trees.

Corn stover  - stalks, leaves, and husks of corn plants
Corn cobs  - cobs that were typically left in the soil now can be put to better use (the cobs have minimal benefit to soil nutrient and offer the farmers yet another income source instead of being plowed into the soil)
Grain straw  - cereal straws (e.g. wheat, barley, oats, rice)
These agricultural waste products are plowed back into the soil, composted, burned or disposed in landfills. Now they can become another revenue source for the farmers.

Switchgrass - these are crops grown specifically for fuel production (non-food based grasses that can be planted in soil and diverse locations less suitable for other plantings; these are perennial grasses/forage crops. They are crops that have low water & fertilizer requirements.
Miscanthus - this is a tall perennial grass whose stems can be used for cellulosic ethanol production
Sorghum -  "milo" - this crop is a short rotation crop, allowing harvesting multiple times throughout the year. It requires little water 

Forest product waste  - included are wood chips, lumber mill sawdust, dead trees, and tree branches
Municipal waste - this includes household garbage and paper products
Industrial waste - black liquor which is a by-product of paper manufacturing; paper sludge

A major benefit of cellulosic ethanol is that it produces lower levels of greenhouse emissions.

Here's a pdf file with a tremendous amount of information - Title: Biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops: proceedings of the short rotation crops international conference  - http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs-p-31.pdf

Here's an excellent website & cellulosic information page to bookmark: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_ethanol_cellulosic.htm

This posting and/or subsequent postings will focus more on each of the feedstocks, highlighting where and how they are being used to produce cellulosic ethanol.

 

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