BIOMASS ENERGY: BIOMASS ENERGY: ETHANOL AND ETHANOL AND

BIODIESELBIODIESELBy Eloka OkonkwoBy Eloka Okonkwo

ETHANOL IN BRAZILETHANOL IN BRAZIL

• Ethanol fuel is Ethanol fuel is produced from produced from sugarcane. sugarcane.

• Average cost of Average cost of ethanol was ethanol was $US1/gallon $US1/gallon opposed to the opposed to the $US1.50/gallon $US1.50/gallon average cost of average cost of gasoline. gasoline.

ETHANOL IN USAETHANOL IN USA

• Production Production increased from increased from 0.175 billion 0.175 billion gallons in 1980 gallons in 1980 to 2.81 billion to 2.81 billion gallons in 2003. gallons in 2003.

PRODUCTION PROCESSPRODUCTION PROCESS

Ethanol Production CostEthanol Production Cost

• A current A current estimate of the estimate of the price of ethanol price of ethanol is about $2.48 is about $2.48 per gallon, and per gallon, and the retail price the retail price of gasoline is of gasoline is estimated to be estimated to be about $2.04 per about $2.04 per gallon. gallon.

BIODIESEL PRODUCTION BIODIESEL PRODUCTION PROCESSPROCESS

• The process The process involves a involves a reaction between reaction between fat oil and fat oil and methanol in methanol in presence of a presence of a catalyst to catalyst to produce a mixture produce a mixture of bio-diesel and of bio-diesel and glycerol. glycerol.

PRODUCTION COSTPRODUCTION COST

PRODUCTION COSTPRODUCTION COST

EMISSION OF EMISSION OF BIODIESELBIODIESEL

• All emission All emission compounds except compounds except Nox saw a Nox saw a reduction in reduction in emission rates emission rates