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BIn Hugoton Ks, Abengoa bioenergy biomass of Kansas is producing bioethanol from

ID: 978209 • Letter: B

Question

BIn Hugoton Ks, Abengoa bioenergy biomass of Kansas is producing bioethanol from corn stover. Suppose in 1 dry ton (1K) of corn stover, 50% are sugar compounds; we assume 90% of the sugar can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars (glucose) and sugar fermentation efficiency is 90%.

A) How many gallons of ethanol can be produced from this 1 dry ton of corn stover? (1 gallon of ethanol weighs 3 kg).

B) It was found that if this 1 dry ton of corn stover is burned for heat, how much more energy can be released comparing to being converted into bioethanol, then what is the point to do such a conversion?

Explanation / Answer

1 ton = 1000 kg

Sugar compounds in 1 ton of the corn = 500 kg

Mass of sugar that can be hydrolysed = 0.9*500 = 450 kg

Mass of sugar that can be fermented = 0.9*450 = 405 kg

Thus, mass of ethanol formed = 0.511*405 = 206.955 kg

Gallons of ethanol formed = 206.955/3 = 68.985

energy released = 405*147 = 59535 kcal