SUBMITTED BY : ABHYODAYA SIDDHARTHA

GUIDED BY :
CLASS : XII PCM
YEAR : 2010-2011
ROLL NO. :
SCHOOL : NEW WAY SENIOR SECONDRY SCHOOL
Chemi!"# $"%&e'!
1
Ce"!i(ie) !% *e !he *%+,(i)e -%". )%+e *#
Master. Abhyodaya siddhartha
of class XII B
in the CHEMISTRY LAB during
the year 2010-2011
Date _.
Submitted for CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDRY EDUCATION
Examination held in CHEMISTRY LAB at NEW WAY SENI! SE"ND!Y S"#$.
EXAMINE
R
DATE :
SEAL
I %ould li&e to ex'ress my
sincere
gratitude to my chemistry
mentor
Miss. ( for her )ital su''ort(
guidance and encouragement * %ithout %hich
this 'ro+ect %ould not ha)e come forth. I
%ould also li&e to ex'ress my gratitude to my
old chemistry teacher Mr.DINESH SHUKLA
for his su''ort during the ma&ing of this
'ro+ect.
INDEX
S.N%. C%+!e+! P/.N%.
I
Objective
0
II
Introduction to green chemistry
1
III
Principals of green chemistry
2
I3
BIODIESEL: sing rene!able
10
resorces
3
"#$I%I$& ': (a)ing biodiesel
12
3I
"#$I%I$& *: $esting biodiesel
14
3II
"#$I%I$& +: Potential for biofuels
11
3III
Biopetrol
25
IX
#onclution
50
X
Bibliography
51
,he b+ecti)e of this 'ro+ect is
to study -!EEN
"#EMIS,!Y*
.io diesel and .io 'etrol also
study extraction 'rocess of .io
desial.
INTRODUCTION TO GREEN CHEMISTY
One
imp
asp
ch
dev
Gre
Su
Am
Che
the
oth
ag
Che
em
imp
of al
Gr
e
is t
ch
and
red
the
ge
hazardous
substances.
Green Chemistry
is based on
.
Twelve Principles
of the
most ortant
new ects of
emistry is the
elopment of
enChemistry
.
pported by
the erican
mical
Society,
S!PA and
er "ederal
encies,
Green
mistry has
erged as an
ortant
aspect l
chemistry.
en
7
#reen chemistry is the br a n ch of c h e m is t ry
concerned with developing processes and
products to reduce or eliminate hazardous
substances. One of the goals of green chemistry
is to prevent pollution at its source, as opposed
to dealing with pollution after it has occurred.
Principles of Green Chemistry
1.
Prevention
$t is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it
has been created.
2.
Atom Economy
Synthetic methods should be designed to ma%imize the
incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final
product.
3.
Less Hazardous Chemical yntheses
&herever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to
use and generate substances that possess little or no to%icity to
human health and the environment.
!.
"esi#nin# afer Chemicals
Chemical products should be designed to effect their desired
function while minimizing their to%icity.
$.
afer olvents and Au%iliaries
The use of au%iliary substances 'e.g., solvents, separation
agents, etc.( should be made unnecessary wherever possible and
innocuous when used.
&.
"esi#n for Ener#y Efficiency
!nergy re)uirements of chemical processes should be recognized
for their environmental and economic impacts and should be
minimized. $f possible, synthetic methods should be conducted at
ambient temperature and pressure.
'.
(se of )ene*a+le ,eedstoc-s
A raw material or feedstoc* should be renewable rather than
depleting whenever technically and economically practicable.
..
)educe "erivatives
nnecessary derivatization
/
use of bloc*ing groups, protection+
deprotection,temporary modification of physical+chemical processes0 should
be minimized or avoided if possible, because such steps re)uire additional
reagents and can generate waste.
9
1.
Catalysis
Catalytic reagents 'as selective as possible( are superior to
stoichiometric reagents.
12.
"esi#n for "e#radation
Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their
function they brea* down into innocuous degradation products
and do not persist in the environment.
11.
)eal3time analysis for Pollution Prevention
Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for
real,time, inprocess monitoring and control prior to the formation
of hazardous substances.
12.
4nherently afer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical
process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical
accidents, including releases,e%plosions, and fires.
Biodiesel: using rene!able resources
1
4ntroduction
-io,diesel is an eco,friendly, alternative diesel fuel prepared from
domestic renewable resources i.e. vegetable oils 'edible or non,
edible oil( and animal fats. These natural oils and fats are made
up mainly of triglycerides. These triglycerides when rea w
stri*ing similarity to petroleum derived diesel and are called
.-io, diesel.. As $ndia is deficient in edible oils, non,edible oil may
be material of choice for producing bio diesel . "or this purpose
/atropha curcas considered as most potential source for it. -io
diesel is produced by transesterification of oil obtains from the
plant.
/atropha Curcas has been identified for $ndia as the most
suitable Tree -orne Oilseed 'T-O( for production of bio,diesel
both in view of the non,edible oil available from it and its
presence throughout the country. The capacity of /atropha
Curcas to rehabilitate degraded or dry lands, from which the
poor mostly derive their sustenance, by improving land0s
water
retention capacity, ma*es it additionally suitable for up,
gradation of land resources. Presently, in some $ndian villages,
farmers are e%tracting oil from /atropha and after settling and
decanting it they are mi%ing the filtered oil with diesel fuel.
Although, so far
the farmers have not observed any damage to their machinery,
yet this remains to be tested and PC1A is wor*ing on it. The fact
remains that this oil needs to be converted to bio,diesel through a
chemical reaction , trans,esterification. This reaction is relatively
simple and does not re)uire any e%otic material. $OC '123( has
been using a laboratory scale plant of 455 *g+day capacity for
trans,esterification6 designing of larger capacity plants is in the
offing. These large plants are useful for centralized production of
bio,diesel. Production of bio,diesel in smaller plants of capacity
e.g. 7 to 85 *g+day may also be started at decentralized level.
Activity 49 :a*ing biodiesel
-iodiesel is a mi%ture of methyl esters of fatty acids 'long chain
car+o%ylic acids(. $t has similar properties to the diesel fuel made
from crude oil that is used to fuel many vehicles. $t can be made
easily from vegetable coo*ing oil that contains compounds of fatty
acids. !nough fuel can be produced in this activity to burn in a later
activity, although it is not pure enough to actually be used as fuel in
a car or lorry. The synthesis is a simple chemical reaction that
produces biodiesel and propane,4,8,;,triol 'glycerol(. Coo*ing oil is
mi%ed with methanol and potassium hydro%ide is added as a catalyst.
The products separate into two layers, with the biodiesel on the top.
The biodiesel is separated and washed, and is then ready for further
e%perimentation.
5hat you *ill need
!ye protection
Access to a top pan balance
One 875 cm
;
conical flas*
Two 455 cm
;
bea*ers
One 455 cm
;
measuring cylinder
"ive plastic teat pipettes
3istilled or deionised water
455 cm
;
vegetable,based coo*ing oil
47 cm
;
methanol 'highly flammable, to%ic by inhalation, if
swallowed, and by s*in absorption(
4 cm
;
potassium hydro%ide solution 75< 'corrosive(.
1
afety
&ear eye protection.
:ethanol is flammable and poisonous.
Potassium hydro%ide is corrosive.
5hat to do
4. :easure 455 cm
;
of vegetable oil into the 875 cm
;
flas*. &eigh the
flas* before and after to determine the mass of oil you used.
8. Carefully add 47 cm
;
of methanol.
;. Slowly add 4 cm
;
of 75< potassium hydro%ide.
=. Stir or swirl the mi%ture for 45 minutes.
7. Allow the mi%ture to stand until it separates into two layers.
>. Carefully remove the top layer 'this is impure biodiesel( using
a teat pipette.
?. &ash the product by sha*ing it with 45 cm
;
of distilled or
deionised water.
@. Allow the mi%ture to stand until it separates into two layers.
A. Carefully remove the top layer of biodiesel using a teat pipette.
45. &eigh the amount of biodiesel you have collected and
compare it to the amount of vegetable oil you started with.
Mineral %ool
,o filter 'um'
/ cm
0
of fuel
soa&ed in
mineral
%ool
A solution
of uni)ersal
indicator
Apparatus for testin# +iodiesel
Activity 26 7estin# +iodiesel
Bow does biodiesel compare to other fuelsC /ust because we can
produce a fuel from an alternative source, does that mean it is a
good ideaC There are many factors that go into the decision to
use
alternative fuels. $deally the physical properties of an alternative fuel
should e)ual or e%ceed those of the traditional product. -ut how are
fuels evaluated in the first place. $n this activity, biodiesel and some
other fuels are tested and compared for sootiness and acidity.
5hat you *ill need
!ye protection
Small glass funnel 'appro%imately ? cm diameter( One
875 cm
;
flas*
Two boiling tubes
One two,hole stopper to fit the boiling tubes
"ilter pump
A piece of wide bore glass tubing appro%imately 45 cm long with two
one,hole stoppers to fit
A piece of vacuum tubing appro%imately ;7 cm long
Two short pieces of glass tubing to fit the one,hole stoppers
7 cm glass bend to fit the two,hole stopper
A5
o
glass bend to fit the two,hole stopper 'one leg to e%tend to bottom
of flas*(
Two stands and clamps
Two small metal sample dishes
A little sodium hydro%ide solution 5.4 mol dm
,;
'irritant(
niversal indicator solution

A little mineral wool.
afety
&ear eye protection.
Ta*e care if you have to insert glass tubing into the stoppers
yourself. :a*e sure that your teacher shows you the correct
techni)ue.
5hat to do
4. Pour 487 cm
;
of distilled water into the 875 cm
;
flas* and add 45 cm
;
of universal indicator. Add one drop of 5.4 mol dm
,;
sodium hydro%ide
solution and gently swirl the flas* so that the colour
of the solution is violet or at the most basic end of the
universal indicator colour range.
8. Place 45 cm
;
of this solution into the boiling tube.
;. Assemble the apparatus illustrated in "igure 4, attaching it
to the filter pump with the vacuum tubing.
=. Place 8 cm
;
of biodiesel onto a wad of mineral wool in the metal
sample cup.
7. Turn on the water tap so the filter pump pulls air through the
flas* and ignite the biodiesel. Position the funnel directly over
the burning fuel, so as to capture the fumes from the burning
fuel. :ar* or note the position of the tap handle so you can
run the pump at the same flow rate later in the e%periment.
>. Allow the e%periment to run until the universal indicator
turns yellow and time how long this ta*es.
?. 1ecord what happens in the funnel and in the glass tube
containing the second piece of mineral wool.
@. Clean the apparatus, and repeat the e%periment using 8 cm
;
of
*erosene 'this is very similar to diesel fuel(.
Activity 3: Potential for biofuels
1.7echnical ,easi+ility
Can be blended in any ratio with petro,diesel
!%isting storage facilities and infrastructure for petro,diesel can be used with
"rom environment and emissions point of view it is superior to petro,diesel.
$t can provide energy security to remote and rural areas. $t has good potential
2.ources of 8io3diesel
All Tree -earing Oil 'T-O( seeds , edible and non edible
Edi+le6 Soya,bean, Sun,flower, :ustard Oil etc.
9on3edi+le6 /atropha Curcas, Pongemia Pinnata, Deem etc. !dible seeds can0t
Among non,edible T-O, /atropha Curcas has been identified as the most suita
3.Advanta#es of :atropha
/atropha Curcas is a widely occurring variety of T-O
$t grows practically all over $ndia under a variety of agro climatic conditions.
Can be grown in arid zones '85 cm rainfall( as well as in higher rainfall zones an
$ts plantation can be ta*en up as a )uic* yielding plant even in adverse land situ
$t grows as a tree up to the height of ; , 7 mt.
$t is a good plantation for !co,restoration in all types wasteland.
!.A#ro Practices 'as per DOEO3, :inistry of Agriculture, #O$(
9ursery raisin#
Durseries may be raised in poly,bags filled with mi%ture of soil and farm yard ma
Two seeds are sown in each bag.
Plantation
;5 cm % ;5 cm % ;5 cm pits are dug
"arm yard manure '8,; *g(, 85 gm urea, 48 gm Single Super
Phosphate 'SSP( 2 4> gm :ono Phosphate ':P(
Plantin# density
8755 plants + ha at 8m % 8m
7ransplantation
$t should be done during rainy reason.
,ertilizer
"rom second year in the ratio of =59>5985 Ditrogen Phosphorous and Potassium
4rri#ation
$t is re)uired only for the first two years
Prunin#
3uring first year when branches reach a height of =5,>5 cms
Pest ; "isease control
Do disease or insects noticed to be harmful
,lo*erin# and fruitin#
"lowering9 Sept., 3ec. 2 :arch, April
,ruitin#
After 8 months of flowering.
12
$.tate3*ise area underta-en +y 9<=<" for :atropha Plantation
Economics /as per Plannin# Commission )eport on 8io3fuels>
22230
Activities
)ate/)s. ?
@#0
Auantity/@#0 Cost/)s.0
Seed $.22 3.2. 1&.!2
Cost of collection 2 oil
e%traction
2.3& 1.2$ 2.!.
Fess ca*e produced 1.22 2.23 /30 2.23
Trans,esterification &.&' 1.22 &.&'
Fess cost of glycerin
produced
!2 to &2 2.21$ /30 3.. to $.'
Cost of -io,diesel per
*g
Cost of -io,diesel per
litre 'Sp. #ravity 5.@7(
11.$2 to
1'.&2
1&.$1 to
1!.1.
13
'. Employment potential 'as per Planning Commission report on bio,fuels, 855;
Fi*ely demand of petro diesel by 855>,5? will be 78 ::T and by
8544,48 it will increase to >? ::T.
7< blend of -io,diesel with petro diesel will re)uire 8.> ::T of
-io,diesel in 855>,5?
-y 8544,48, for 85< blend with Petro,diesel, the li*ely demand will be 4;.= ::T.
To meet the re)uirement of 8.> ::T of bio,diesel, plantation of
/atropha should be done on 8.8 , 8.> million ha area.
44.8 , 4;.= million ha of land should be covered by 8544 , 48 for
85< bio,diesel blending
$t will generate following no. of Gobs in following areas.
855>,5?
8544,48
<il content
;7< to =5<
Collection and processin#
1ipe fruits collected from trees.
.. Efforts of 9ational <ilseed and =e#eta+le <il "evelopment
8oard /9<=<"0
Systematic state+region wise survey for identification of superior trees and sup
:aintenance of record on seeds+trees.
Samples of high yield to be sent to Dational -ureau of Plant #enetic 1esources
9<=<" has developed improved :atropha seeds> *hich have oil contents up to
Bowever, being in short supply, initially these improved /atropha seeds would
After multiplication these would be supplied to different states for further culti
$t is also wor*ing for development of multi,purpose post,harvest
14
technology tools li*e decorticator and de,huller, which would
further improve oil recovery.
1. 7rans3esterification Process
Catalyst/odium or
Glycerin/(sed
=e#eta+le
<il
Alcohol Potassiu m
Hydro%ide0
for medicinal
value0
8io3
diesel
455 gm 12 #m 1 #m 11 #m 1$ #m
$t is the displacement of alcohol from an ester by another
alcohol in a similar process to hydrolysis.
Eegetable Oil i.e. the triglyceride can be easily trans,esterified in
the presence of al*aline catalyst at atmospheric pressure and at
temperature of appro%imately >5 to ?5oC with an e%cess of
methanol.
$f 455 gm of vegetable oil is ta*en, 4 gm of the al*aline catalyst
'Potassium Bydro%ide(, and 48 gm of :ethanol would be re)uired
As a first step, the al*aline catalyst is mi%ed with methanol and
the mi%ture is stirred for half an hour for its homogenization.
This mi%ture is mi%ed with vegetable oil and the resultant
mi%ture is made to pass through reflu% condensation at >7oC.
The mi%ture at the end is allowed to settle.
The lower layer will be of glycerin and it is drain off.
The upper layer of bio,diesel 'a methyl ester( is washed to
remove entrained glycerin.
The e%cess methanol recycled by distillation.
This reaction wor*s well with high )uality oil. $f the oil contains
4< "ree "atty Acid '""A(, then difficulty arises because of soap
formation. $f ""A content is more than 8< the reaction
becomes unwor*able.
:ethanol is inflammable and Potassium Bydro%ide is caustic,
hence proper and safe handling of these chemicals are must.
12. A#encies ; 4nstitutes *or-in# in the field of +io3diesel
Dational Oil seeds and Eegetable Oil -oard, #urgaon
PC1A , Petroleum Conservation 1esearch Association
':OP2D#(
$OC '123( Centre, "aridabad
3elhi College of !ngineering
$$T, 3elhi
/5
$$P, 3ehradun
3ownstream Dational Oil Companies
$ndian $nstitute of Chemical Technology, Byderabad
CS$1
:inistry of Don,conventional !nergy Sources
Central Pollution Control -oard
-ureau of $ndian Standards
$ndian 1enewable !nergy 3evelopment Agency
tates> *hich have made some lead
(ttranchal6
ttaranchal -io,fuel -oard '--( has been constituted as a nodal agency for b
Bas underta*en /atropha plantation in an area of 4 la*h hectare.
-- has established /atropha #ene -an* to preserve high yielding seed varie
Bas ambitious plan to produce 455 million liters of bio,diesel.
Andhra Pradesh6
#ovt. of AP '#oAP( to encourage /atropha plantation in 45 rain shadow distric
Tas* force for it has been constituted at district and state level
#oAP proposed /atropha cultivation in 47 la*h acres in ne%t = years
$nitial target is 8 la*h acres
$rrigation to be dovetailed with /atropha cultivation
A5< drip subsidy is proposed
/atropha cultivation to be ta*en up only in cultivable lands with e%isting farmer
Crop and yield insurance is proposed
Chhattis#arh6
> la*h saplings of /atropha have been planted with the involvement of State0s "
As per the 3eputy Chairman, State Planning -oard, the state has the target to
Oils, have offered to set up /atropha oil,e%traction units or to buy the produce
Companies li*e $ndian Oil, $ndian 1ailways and Bindustan
Petroleum have each deposited 1s 45 la*h as security for future
/1
:os with the state government.
11. ,armersB 4nitiatives in Haryana
"armers in Baryana have formed D#Os and cooperatives for promotion of /atr
These D#Os and cooperatives are raising nurseries for /atropha plantation an
These D#Os and cooperatives are also organizing the practical demonstration
D#Os have also printed some boo*lets on /atropha plantation.
12. Current usa#es of +io3diesel ? 7rials ; testin# of +io3diesel
sages of bio,diesel are similar to that of petro,diesel
Shatabadi !%press was run on 7< blend of bio,diesel from 3elhi to Amritsar on
"ield trials of 45< bio,diesel blend were also done on Fuc*now, Allahabad /an
BPCF is also carrying out field trials in association with -!ST
-io,3iesel blend from $OC '123( is being used in buses in
:umbai as well as in 1ewari, in Baryana on trial basis .
CS$1 and 3aimler Chrysler have Gointly underta*en a successful
7555 *m trial run of :ercedes cars using bio,diesel as fuel.
DOEO3 has initiated test run by blending 45< bio diesel in collaboration with $$
//
BIO - PE TRO L
$ntroduction
:easures to be implemented to resolve the problem of sewage
sludge that contain a high degree of organic matter could primarily
aim at recycling it through a thermo chemical pyrolysis process in
order to recover hydrocarbons that ma*e up the structure of
sewage sludge. Pyrolysis of sewage sludge produces oil, gas
and char products. The pyrolysis oils have also been shown to
contain valuable chemicals in significant concentrations and
hence may have the potential to be used as chemical feedstoc*. The
production of a li)uid product increases the ease of handling,
storage and transport.
The technology, improved by -ioPetrol Ftd. 'patent pending( is
capable of processing carbon wastes, other than sewage sludge,
including agri,wastes, bagasse, pulp and paper residues, tannery
sludge and other end,of,life products such as plastics, tires and the
organics in municipal solid waste.The process of low temperature
thermochemical conversion of municipal sewage sludge to oil is a
new technology in developed countries. The amount of investment is
still less than the amount invested in the sewage sludge incineration
process, and the operational economy of the process is obviously
superior to incineration.
The -ioPetrol, Ftd. integrated thermochemical process 'patent pending(
recovers about 4,455,555 Hcal from each 8@; *g of sewage sludge A5< 3.S.
after the thermal evaporating of ?4?*g water from each dewatered ton '4,555
*g( of sewage sludge 8>< 3.S.
2
The -ioPetrol process begins with sewage sludge at A5< 3.S.
Sewage sludge drying e)uipment is used commonly for the
evaporative removal of interstitial water from the sludge.
Dumerous drying technologies e%ist on the mar*et.
Car-et Analysis and trate#y
Three potential products+services9
4. 3isposal of Sewage Sludge I 3isposal of sewage sludge
comprises over ;5< of wastewater treatment plantsJ budget.
Customers of this service are local communities. They are willing to
pay top dollar for the disposal of their sludge. "or e%ample9 Bolland
K75,KA5 per ton, .S., Canada and Australia, up to K475 per ton. The
S produces 87 million tons of sludge annually '8554(.
8. Synthetic Crude Oil I !%cess crude oil, beyond what is being
recirculated to run e)uipment AL- is about ;5 *g per 4 ton sewage
sludge A5< 3.S. Oil energy M @,A55 Hcal+*g same as diesel oil used in
heavy industry. There are references in professional literature to
numerous valuable chemicals in significant concentration that are
present in pyrolysis oils.
-ioPetrol Ftd has on board, as a shareholder, an internationally
renowned scientist,academician to address this issue.
;. Selling the Technology , &ith the completion of the development
of the process and e)uipment for its operation, -ioPetrol. Ftd. will
have the technology to sell to world mar*ets. Potential mar*ets are
water authorities, municipalities, wastewater treatment plants,
entrepreneurs, sewage sludge disposal contractors, sludge drying
operators.
-ioPetrol, ltd. has been awarded a grant of K;55,555 for a period of
8 years by $sraelJs Office of the Chief Scientist to conduct advanced
123. The company has concluded and proved the viability of the
process and is now on the verge of constructing a demonstration
pilot for a continuous process.
-ioPetrol is see*ing an investment of SK=55,555 for the completion
of the demonstration pilot. A business plan is available for further
details.
7echnolo#y
The technological processes at issue in the -io,Petrol proGect belong
to the sphere of li)uefying carbon,rich solid fuels. The li)uefaction
processes common today comprise two stages9
4. Thermal brea*down of the molecular structure to create radical
fractions different in size.
8. Stabilization of the radicals by recombining themselves or by
redistribution of hydrogen from the raw material itself or by
hydrogen that is introduced from outside 'molecular hydrogen
or from hydrogen,donor matter(.
-io,Petrol Company has carried out 123 wor* which has resulted in
the formulation of a suitable process for producing synthetic oil from
sewage sludge with larger output than that obtained from the
common process,i.e. pyrolysis. -y integrating familiar li)uefaction
methods the company developed a process of high utilization of the
organic matter that is in the sewage sludge that produces oil and
gas in larger )uantities and of better )uality.
5hat is EthanolD
!thanol is part of a category of molecules called alcohols. The
simplest alcohol is called methanol and is very similar to a
compound called methane. :ethane is a molecule composed of
one carbon atom surrounded by = hydrogen atoms. $n methanol,
one of these hydrogen atoms is replaced with an o%ygen atom with
a hydrogen atom attached to it. This two atom group, o%ygen
attached to a hydrogen, is called an alcohol group.
Any molecule that has an alcohol group attached to it can be called
an alcohol. To ma*e it easier to tal* about, chemists add an NolO on
the end of a chemicals name to indicate that it has an alcohol group.
Therefore, methane with an alcohol group attached is called
methanol.
"or ethanol, it is an ethane molecule Itwo carbon atoms, with si%
hydrogen atoms surrounding themPwith one hydrogen replaced by
an alcohol group. Then, the name ethane is changed to ethanol, to
indicate that it is an alcohol.
Ho* Ethanol is Cade
!thanol has been used by humans for thousands of years, in part
because it is easy to ma*e. $n fact, nature can ma*e it for us in a
process called fermentation.
"ermentation is a biochemical process carried out by microscopic
organisms called yeast. Qeast are anaerobic, meaning they can live
and eat without needing o%ygen. :any living things eat sugar, and
yeast eat sugar too. &hen there is no o%ygen, yeast chow down on
sugar, but they canJt get all of the energy that is available in sugar
out of it. $nstead they use it to get some energy, and in the process
of digesting it, convert it into ethanol and carbon dio%ide Petrol.
Qeast are even used to ma*e bread. &hen ma*ing bread, ba*ers use
the yeasts ability to ma*e carbon dio%ide Petrol to ma*e the bread
rise, ma*ing it thic*er. $f it were not for yeast, pizza dough would
be flatter than a panca*e.
Scientists have also invented ways to ma*e ethanol synthetically,
without utilizing natureJs help. The process converts a byproduct of
ma*ing Petrololine into ethanol. Although this process is used, more
than A5< of the ethanol produced per year is made using yeast.
)eplacin# Petrololine *ith CornD
Qeast only consume simple sugars, so only certain foods are good
for putting them to wor* ma*ing ethanol. -a*ers use the sugar that
you can find in your *itchen. -ut it ta*es a lot of *itchen sugar to fill
the tan* of your car with ethanol. Some countries, such as -razil,
that grow a lot of sugar use it to ma*e ethanol for cars. -razil has
been producing ethanol fuels for decades. The nited States does
not have enough sugar cane plants to do this. $nstead, the .S. has
focused on using corn.
Corn has less sugar in it than sugar cane, re)uiring scientists to
develop ways to convert cornJs more comple% sugars into simple
sugars. Critics of using corn for fuel say that it ta*es more energy
to ma*e ethanol from corn than it ta*es to ma*e regular Petrololine.
Bowever, a recent review of many different studies in the American
Chemical Society Gournal, !nvironmental Science and Technology,
suggests that in most cases, using corn would still save us from
using as much fossil fuels as we would if we Gust used Petrololine.
tic-s> hus-s> and #rass to EthanolD
A new method is being developed that may be even more promising
than using corn or sugar cane as yeast food. All plants ma*e a
comple% sugar called cellulose and it is one of the most abundant
plant materials on earth. Cotton is almost all cellulose, and some
forms of cellulose can be found in many of the foods that we eat.
Trees have it. #rass has it. !ven corn stal*s. -ut yeast donJt eat
cellulose.
1ecently several groups of researchers have developed enzymes,
which are comple% molecules that operate li*e little machines, to
brea* apart cellulose into simple sugars that the yeast can eat.
&hat ma*es this very interesting is that farms and other industries
already produce tons and tons of waste materials that contain
cellulose. /ust imagine, all the stic*s and grass clippings from your
yard or playground could be turned into fuel for your car. "arms
can also grow plants for ma*ing ethanol. President #eorge &.
-ush mentioned one of these, switch grass, in the 855> State of the
nion address.
Therefore, farms or timber companies can convert their waste into
ethanol. There is also one additional benefit, and challenge to
processing cellulose. Cellulose is often stuc* together with another
plant compound called lignin. Fignins are compounds that ma*e
plants strong, and they trap cellulose. Fignins are one of the waste
products of paperma*ing. -ut, lignin materials e%tracted from waste
materials used for ma*ing ethanol can be burned to power the
process, saving more fossil fuels.
$tJs not a )uestion of if we will stop using oil but when. Soon, we will
all have to replace oil with a different, renewable source and ethanol
may be the answer.
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CONCLUSION
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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