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Can biofuels finally take center stage?

Today, ethanol and biodiesel are predominantly produced from corn kernels, sugarcane or soybean oil. But researchers and investors are increasingly upbeat about another biofuel feedstock, lignocellulose—the most abundant biological material on earth.

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Figure 1: Rising production of biofuels.
Figure 2: Steps in the process for making ethanol.
Figure 3
Figure 4: Approximate greenhouse gas savings with biofuels.

References

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http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/fossilfuels/index.html

http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060227/full/440012a.html

http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060612/full/441810a.html

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Biofuels for transportation Report from the Worldwatch Institute

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Biomass research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Schubert, C. Can biofuels finally take center stage?. Nat Biotechnol 24, 777–784 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0706-777

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