Is this not proof that we do not need gasoline?

Question

Just the other day i was cutting my grass and I thought about fuel prices came into my head. Then a thought came into my head why couldn't we use grass cuttings to make an ethnol based fuel. Well it turns out i was right just not the first to figure that out! researchers have developed a new technology that promises to dramatically increase the yield of ethanol from readily available non-food crops, such as Bermudagrass, switchgrass, Napiergrass—and even yard waste. Producing ethanol from renewable biomass sources such as grasses is desirable because they are potentially available in large quantities,” said Joy Peterson, professor of microbiology and chair of UGA’s Bioenergy Task Force. “Optimizing the breakdown of the plant fibers is critical to production of liquid transportation fuel via fermentation.” Peterson developed the new technology with former UGA microbiology student Sarah Kate Brandon, and Mark Eiteman, professor of biological and agricultural engineering.The new technology has commercial application for the biomass industry, including producers of sugar cane, corn, switchgrass, Napiergrass and other woody biomass crops,” said Gennaro Gama, UGARF technology manager responsible for licensing this technology. “It may also help renewable energy and biofermentation companies—and local governments.

“By allowing for the use of myriad raw materials, this technology allows more options for ethanol facilities trying to meet nearby demand by using locally available, inexpensive starting materials,” he added. “This would greatly reduce the costs and carbon footprint associated with the delivery of raw materials to fermentation facilities and the subsequent delivery of ethanol to points of sale. Local production of ethanol may also protect specific areas against speculative fluctuations in fuel prices.

“It’s easy to imagine that this easy-to-use, inexpensive technology could be used by local governments, alone or in partnership with entrepreneurs, to meet local demand for ethanol, possibly using yard waste as a substrate,” he said.

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Answer 1

any biofuel needs to be mixed with regular gasoline, usually 15%, to produce any propulsion at all.

As we all know, there is only so much gasoline left  on earth

biofuel from yard clippings could buy us time, but should not be considered a cure-all

in the long run, hydrogen is our best bet

Answer 2

I do believe it is a partial answer. Because US is in a temperete climate and also subject to extensive droughts and localized destructive floods (hich compromise corn and wheat harvest), the question of biofuels is still a grey area. I is possibly not a stand-alone solution.

The solution for the energy crisis in the US must be multiprong: investiments in public/mass transporation, biofuels, solar energy, new urban transportation policies, cargo by train, redesign of individual vehicles, new materials, etc.

I disagree with aprevious comment that biofuels only work when mixed with gasoline. That is not true. Germany had to rely, in part, on pure methanol when gasoline supply lines were cut toward the end of the war. Brazil's automobile fleet was comprised - until recently - of more than 50% of automobiles than ran exclusivelly on 100% anhydrous ethanol, and performance was comparable to gas engines in urban traffic. Currently, biodiesel can be used straight up in trucks.

Also, the issue of methane production. We should keep in mind that methane is indeed a major product of anaerobic fermentation (such as in swamps). It is only a minor component of aerobic fermentation such as the one for production of ethanol.

Also,  and most importantly, microorganisms used nowadays in fermentation are genetically modified to maximize the yield of target product and minimize side products such as CO2 and CH4.

As per depletion of resources, please note: this is reusing waste, and oly sugars get extracted from the waste to produce ethanol. Residual matter, containing high concentrations of  nitrogen, potassium, etc., still can be used as fertilizer. It is the ultimate recycling...

Answer 3

No, it's not.

Answer 4

Instead of posting a dumb question like this why don't you actually try it first.

You'll find that there is very low yield of alcohol available from fermenting yard waste.

Answer 5

Yes but the plants produce all the oil on earth. It is in there seeds such as olive oil and others. The plants produced the fossil fuels for several millions of years and will continue for the next million years.

Answer 6

I see 2 problems with this theory, one is if we use all of the biodegradable materials to make ethanol, the we deplete the natural process that returns nutrients back into the soil, and in turn have to use chemical fertilizer to replace them.

The other one is, natural fermentation gives off methane gas,

so the simpler thing would be to capture the methane gas and use this as a power source, and in the same process reduce grass clippings and other natural materials into compost, and return that back into to soil, there by providing both a fuel source and naturally enriching the earth.

Answer 7

Has anyone worked in a hay field? It takes a lot of work to collect all of these clippings, from both human and from fuel. Right now even at 140 a barrel oil is cheap.

Answer 8

if it was that easy I think someone with the $$'s to invest would have jumped all over it by now...

Answer 9

I heard something about that before But it seems like the gov is beating this whole oil and gas thing as if beating a dead horse They figure they might as well use the fact theres an oil shortage to their advantage while they still can Cause everyone knows that we arent going to be dependant on oil forever And people also know that they will find other means of substituting oil very soon So the gov is jacking up gas prices like crazy trying to get as much as possible before this change happens Thats why they keep on coming up with more retarded laws that they can squeeze money out of everyone Like the one where you have to ride your bike in the street I mean come on What do you think is safer Riding your bike on the sidewalk and possible knocking down a person Or riding your bike in the street and getting hit by a car Its bulls**t But anyways People are finding more and more ways to substitute oil So eventually that ideas gonna come out and change the way we live making it better for us and the environment