BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION - STATUS AND PROSPECTS

Production of fuel ethanol from renewable lignocellulosic materials (' 'bioethanol'') has the potential to reduce burgeoning world dependence on petroleum while decreasing net emissions of carbon dioxide, the pr incipal greenhouse gas. This paper reviews the benefits and status of bioethanol production technology, focusing mostly on recent developmen ts in the United States of America The composition of representative l ignocellulosic biomass species is presented and processing options und er investigation are described. Discussion of current research directi ons highlights recent breakthroughs that significantly improve the pro spects for commercialization. The pace of recent developments suggests that large-scale bioethanol production facilities will come on line i n the United States within the next several years. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.