New process for cellulosic ethanol, butanol

ZeaChem, a U.S. company, claims they can produce cellulosic ethanol for 80 cents per gallon (wholesale) by extracting acetic acid from cellulose and hemicellulose, while also extracting hydrogen from lignin. The hydrogen and acetic acid are them combined to make ethanol. They say this process extracts more ethanol from a tone of material. They plant to use fast-growing poplar trees as the feedstock. They also claim to be able to easily switch to producing butanol or other fuel types should the market warrant a switch. This could be quite significant considering the advantages of butanol with regard to automobile and pipeline compatibility. More information at:
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