Review
Environmental Sciences
Melissa J. Scully, Gregory A. Norris, Tania M. Alarcon Falconi, David L. MacIntosh
Summary: Research on the carbon intensity of corn ethanol has been actively pursued for the past three decades, with recent studies showing a 46% lower carbon intensity compared to neat gasoline. Ethanol production and farming practices are the largest contributors to carbon emissions, while land use change plays a minor role in overall carbon intensity.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Seth A. Spawn-Lee, Tyler J. Lark, Holly K. Gibbs, Richard A. Houghton, Christopher J. Kucharik, Chris Malins, Rylie E. O. Pelton, G. Philip Robertson
Summary: Researchers revised carbon intensity estimates for corn-grain ethanol, significantly reducing previous estimates to suggest a lower current estimate. However, their methodology has been criticized for filtering estimates based on unfounded criteria, potentially leading to underestimation of the actual values.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mikaela Algren, Amy E. Landis, Christine Costello
Summary: This study estimated virtual nitrogen in ethanol fuel and animal products, considering the connection between ethanol production and animal feed systems. The inclusion of ethanol coproducts in animal diets led to a decrease in nitrogen content in animal products.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guiyan Zang, Pingping Sun, Amgad Elgowainy, Adarsh Bafana, Michael Wang
Summary: This study evaluated the greenhouse gas emissions of FT fuels from various electrolytic H-2 pathways and CO2 sources, finding significant reduction in emissions under different process designs and system boundaries.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jikai Zhao, Danyi Feng, Juhee Lee
Summary: This study used life-cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental and human health impacts of four ethanol production scenarios. The results showed that using CO2 for neutralization and C6/C5 yeast for fermentation had significant benefits in terms of carcinogenicity, non-carcinogenicity, respiratory effect, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel depletion. The findings highlight the importance of chemical and strain selection in determining environmental and human health impacts.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Melaku Desta, Timothy Lee, Han Wu
Summary: The study investigates the potential of using ABE (acetone-butanol-ethanol) mixture as a transportation fuel, showing significant fossil fuel savings and GHG emission reductions compared to gasoline and diesel. ABE has the potential to become an alternative biofuel and an additive blend for diesel or gasoline.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melissa J. Scully, Gregory A. Norris, Tania M. Alarcon Falconi, David L. MacIntosh
Summary: The commentators criticized our recent paper on the carbon intensity of corn ethanol in the United States, particularly focusing on our methodology and conclusions regarding greenhouse gas life cycle analyses. We responded to their concerns and demonstrated the robustness of our approach for assessing corn ethanol LCAs.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Uisung Lee, Troy R. Hawkins, Eunji Yoo, Michael Wang, Zhe Huang, Ling Tao
Summary: The study evaluates the potential of converting high-purity CO2 from corn ethanol plants into ethanol using gas fermentation and electrochemical reduction technologies. It shows that the sources of electricity and hydrogen significantly impact the greenhouse gas emissions of CO2-based ethanol. Using wind electricity can greatly reduce the carbon intensities of ethanol, providing emissions reduction benefits compared to gasoline.
BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shaobin Li, Matthew Thompson, Sussan Moussavi, Bruce Dvorak
Summary: The environmental and economic impacts of corn production vary with geographical regions, water sources, and corn seed hybrids. Improving energy efficiency of diesel irrigation pumps is crucial for reducing GHGs and environmental impacts. Among all practices, fossil fuel depletion has the largest contribution to the overall results.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diana Rose T. Rivera, Aristotle T. Ubando, Wei-Hsin Chen, Alvin B. Culaba
Summary: Torrefaction process increased the energy content of microalgal biomass and had the least energy demand among all processes. The energy demand is mainly consumed by microalgal growth using a photobioreactor system. Different cultivation methods and production scales affect the energy demand for torrefied microalgal biomass production.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Slobodan M. Cvetkovic, Tatjana Kaluderovic Radoicic, Mirjana Kijevcanin, Jasmina Grbovic Novakovic
Summary: This study demonstrates and quantifies energy flows in the production of biohydrogen from biogas, revealing a negative energy balance and environmental unsustainability. Future research should consider additional aspects of sustainability to assess the overall sustainability of biogas utilization pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daniel Gerrior, Khashayar Delsoz Bahri, Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour, Mathew J. Eckelman, Satinder Kaur Brar
Summary: This study proposes a novel biorefinery design for corn-ethanol production, aiming to reduce environmental impacts by substituting energy-intensive equipment and utilizing by-products. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis demonstrate that this design decreases energy consumption and environmental footprints, albeit with a slight decrease in economic performance.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pedro Augusto Machado Neto
Summary: Despite a decades-long tradition of sugarcane-based ethanol production, Brazil has been importing large volumes of American corn-based ethanol and experiencing deficits in its ethanol trade balance since the 2010s. The Brazilian ethanol mandate has both long run and short run effects on the trade balance, while the American mandate only has a positive long run effect due to its annual nature. The study suggests that Brazil could capitalize on the rising demand for cellulosic biofuels, which has a greater impact compared to traditional ethanol mandates.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
C. Veluchamy, Ajay S. Kalamdhad, Brandon H. Gilroyed
Summary: The kinetic study of plug flow reactor digesting corn silage under mesophilic conditions showed that increasing organic loading rate (OLR) led to a decrease in biogas yield and methane content in the biogas. The developed kinetic model can be used to design plug flow reactors for digesting various organic wastes. The maximum biogas yield and first-order reaction rate constant were determined in this study for future reactor design.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hui Xu, Uisung Lee, Michael Wang
Summary: This study evaluates how low-carbon production technologies applicable to ethanol plants may reduce the life-cycle greenhouse gas emission (GHG) intensities of corn ethanol production in the USA. Results indicate that to achieve deep decarbonization, a fuel switch and application of multiple technologies are needed.
BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR
(2022)