Eco Factor: Nanotechnology to further improve the cellulosic ethanol process.
Researchers at Louisiana Tech University are gearing up to further improve the cellulosic ethanol process by using nanotechnology. The researchers believe that the world’s appetite for fuel cannot be satisfied with traditional crops such as sugarcane or corn, as it can escalate the food crisis.
While the latest in technology allows for the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass, these researchers are planning to decrease the cost of the process by using new nanotechnology processes developed at the university. The new technology can immobilize the expensive enzymes used to convert cellulose to sugars, allowing them to be reused several times over, thereby significantly reducing the overall cost of the process.
Savings estimates range from approximately $32 million for each cellulosic ethanol plant to a total of $7.5 billion if a federally-established goal of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol is achieved. This process can easily be applied in large-scale commercial environments and can immobilize a wide variety or mixture of enzymes for production.
Via: RedOrbit
