Ethanol industry from lignocellulose route
Q. What is the use of Lignocellulose?- Published on 14 Feb 16a. Biofuel
b. Medicine
c. Preservatives
d. In food stuffs for taste
ANSWER: Biofuel
- Lignocellulose refers to plant dry matter (biomass), so called lignocellulosic biomass. It is the most abundantly available raw material on the Earth for the production of bio-fuels, mainly bio-ethanol. It is composed of carbohydrate polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose), and an aromatic polymer (lignin).
- Benefits of using Ethanol blended petrol are that it will not only help in value addition for the farmer’s produce but will also reduce foreign exchange expenditure.
- Added benefits of blended petrol would be in the form of employment generation, entrepreneurship promotion and environment protection.
- Molasses to Ethanol conversion is already going on and the Government has taken up second generation of lignocelluloses to Ethanol production to utilize agricultural residues/wastes, and achieve the target of 10% Ethanol blending.
- There is need to accelerate the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) programme in the country and to draw up a roadmap for establishing ethanol industry from lignocellulose route thus reducing the foreign exchange outflow, generate rural employment and protect environment.
