C ENV 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Sugarcane, Palm Oil, Biofuel

• School: UW
• Department: College of the Environment
• Course: C ENV 110
• Professor: Ray Hilborn

Document Summary

C env 110 lecture 13 biofuels. Current status around the world: supply and trends in production. Organic matter can be converted to fuel. This is where fossil fuels came fro. The old method is to collect firewood and either burn it directly or convert to charcoal. The new technology is to grow crops - convert these crops to fuel (3 prime benefits: reduce dependence on foreign oil, potential for carbon neutral production, boost farm incomes. Bioethanol: made by fermenting the sugars and starches in plant matter: also some work on converting cellulose. Biodiesel: made from vegetable oils and animal fats (does not require fermentation) Agricultural residues: leftover material from crops - stalks, leaves, husks of corn plants. Forestry wastes: chips from sawdust from lumber mills, dead trees, and tree branches. Municipal solid waste: household garbage and paper products. Food processing and other industrial wastes: black liquor --> a paper manufacturing by-product.