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Breakthrough in biofuel

Toke

Godless Socialist
Toke
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
8,171
Location
Denmark
It have just been announced that Danisco and Novozymes have a new enzyme ready that will allow straw to be turned into ethanol at a reasonable price.

http://politiken.dk/erhverv/article904009.ece
(in Danish only)
The "only" problem is that the subsidiary arrangements have to be changed as it is currently better for the farmers to sell their straw to central heating plants. It also means that the straw is already being used, and if it is to be used to replace 10% of gasoline houses will have to be heated some other way.

But still it is an advance for renewable energy, and increase the number of options available.
 
Maybe that's a problem for Denmark, but waste straw in other places is often simply burnt in the open. Between ethanol production and turning waste straw into medium-density fiberboard a lot of pollution could be eliminated.
 
Burning in the open was banned something like 20 years ago. (I tried it as a kid, it was fun.:))

It could make a big difference elsewhere. Also houses have more options available for heating than cars for fuel.
 
Depending on the economy and local land set up, in Oregon excess straw is sometimes free for pickup. Allowing caretakers of cows, horses and such truck away the straw is cheaper than even burning it. Right now I think we are in a "charge money" portion of the cycle. Regardless such advances could be a huge boon for farmers with the small hiccup of raising costs for ranchers.
 
Toke said:
Burning in the open was banned something like 20 years ago. (I tried it as a kid, it was fun.:))

It could make a big difference elsewhere. Also houses have more options available for heating than cars for fuel.
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Banned? Really? Here in Alabama it is fairly routine to build bonfires and burn yard refuse. And builders routinely burn scrap wood, etc. Oh well. That's probably not the worst law we routinely break down here. :)
 
The issue of field burning has been a hot button issue in Oregon for the past few decades. Currently there is an ever lessening allowance and time frame in which it is allowed. On one hand, it is a cheap and effecient way to handle the straw which can be a fire hazard just sitting there in the warm dry months. On the other hand, the wind can easily switch direction and make life generally unpleasant for the urban dweller. Selling the excess straw for fuel purposes would make the debate downright moot. I welcome this technology if it pans out as meeting the claims.
 
Slight de-rail:

Termites have the enzyme needed to digest cellulose, with a by-product of methane.
Large scale termite husbandry with ag wastes could be a future tech of merit.
Not just the waste disposal and fuel, but high protein animal feed as well could be realized from this husbandry.
 
Scott Haley said:
Could you use this to make straw into drinkable booze? How about lawn clippings?
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It should be possible, but the lawnshine may need some purification to be drinkable. :D

It could be a base for spiced/herbal snaps.
 
quarky said:
that doesn't even rhyme.
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Yet it's still magical.

I think the future fuel for vehicles will be a mixture of bio-fuels and electricity. There is so much invested in infrastructure for the distribution of fuel I can't imagine it being remodeled or left behind.
 
The interesting thing about this invention is that it will allow the production of biofuel as a byproduct of food crops, instead of competing with food crops for land and other ressources. Even in Denmark, there is a considerable surplus of straw, so...

Hans
 
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