Could ethanol be made from the Kudzu vine?

Question

Kudzu grows wild all over the Southern U.S., and has proven very difficult to get rid of. Why don't we capitalize on this and try to make ethanol out of it? It's not like the stuff isn't renewable enough!

Answer 1

You can make ethanol out of any organic thing that decays, the question is the quality

Answer 2

That's a great idea.  I wonder if that could be done.  We would never run out of it.

Answer 3

I wondered the same thing about Japanese Knotweed!  It would be  a great way to use these invasive species plants.

I belive breaking down the cellulose is the problem with the knotweed.  Collecting might be a problem with kudzu. It's a great idea though if someone could make it work.  Instead of using our "edible" plants we would use the  plants we are trying to eliminate.

Answer 4

Good Idea. Can't kill it, so maybe it could be of use.

Answer 5

there is research going on now where using bacteria to break down the wood fibers, fuel alcohol is being made from waste that would otherwise be made into mulch. fuel alcohol is also being made from algae as well.