Hydrolis: |
The article Cellulosic ethanol (2007) and Cellulosic ethanol (n.d.) describes hydrolis (or hydrolysis) as being, in this case, the ways to break up the long strings of glucose molecules that make up cellulose to convert into another form of energy. Starch ethanol is the same basic principle, but the strings of sugar are much shorter in that form of bio-mass. The new stable mixture can then be fermented to get ethanol. |
Chemical: |
According same articles, chemical hydrolis uses acids that hit the cellulose to break it down. Then, water is added to separate the new sugar from the acid additives. The flammable lignin obtained during this stage can power the whole process, making it incredibly green. |
Enzymic: |
Enzymic hydrolis is similar to the chemical form; however, the cellulose isn’t broken down using acids. It’s done using enzymes, like cellulase (Cellulosic ethanol, 2007). These enzymes are found in nature, not to mention in the Canadian biotechnology firm Iogen. Iogen has changed the way cellulose ethanol is made by using new enzymes and a steam-oriented pre-treatment to maximize exposure of the plant fiber to the enzymes. These enzymes are generally excreted (pooped-out) by specific microorganisms, some of which are found in our gut (Company delivers waste straw to refinery, 2004). Other companies are taking a different approach: fungi (Cellulosic ethanol, 2007). They genetically modify them to produce large amounts of cellulase. |
Gasification: |
Gasification is very different from the other method. It uses the carbon in the plant to produce ethanol. So, plants with higher carbon levels, like wood chips, are preferable (Ethanol fuel, 2007). The carbon is gasified, and then eaten by a bacterium named Clostridium ljungdahlii and its variants. As a waste product it produces ethanol and water. |
