Ethanol Production Through Fermentation: Questions Answered

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Ethanol can be produced through the fermentation of both sugar and cellulose, with sugar fermentation being more straightforward. Ethanol production from cellulose, such as grass and newspaper, faces challenges primarily due to the need to break down cellulose into fermentable sugars, which is complicated by the presence of lignin. While lignin is typically removed during paper production, the fermentation of paper is not necessarily easy or cheap due to the remaining complexities in processing. To enhance fermentation rates, specific additives may be used, but the discussion does not specify which ones. A small fermentation plant capable of producing 20 gallons per month could potentially fit within a 10-foot cube, though practical considerations for setup and efficiency are not detailed. The question of why ethanol producers do not replicate yeast's chemical processes directly highlights the complexities of fermentation, including the solid waste left behind after the process.
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I have read that ethanol is produced by fermenting sugar, but I do not know what kind. I also read ethanol is produced by fermenting cellulose, which is correct?
I've heard that ethanol can be produced from grass and newspaper, is there anything special you have to do to it?
What crop/organic substance produces the most ethanol or contains the most substance that can be fermented?
Is there anything I can add to increase the fermentation rate?
I want to make a small fermentation plant to produce 20 gallons per month, can this be done in a 10' cube?
Why don't ethanol producers simply recreate the chemical reactions yeast would do instead of the long process of fermenttion?
 
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What gets left behind after fermentation (solid waste)?
 
You may want to look at this.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-017.html

The major problem of producing ethanol from cellulose is the breakdown of cellulose into simple and useable sugar by the microorganisms.
 
iansmith said:
You may want to look at this.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-017.html

The major problem of producing ethanol from cellulose is the breakdown of cellulose into simple and useable sugar by the microorganisms.
According to that article the cellulose is incased in Lignin. The removal of the cellulose from the lignin is the hardest part. But all my encyclopedias and sources say that lignin is removed in the process of making paper , so wouldn't fermentation of paper be easy cheap?
 
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