Author Archives: paleololigo

Scientist (Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology); Writer (Speculative and Science Fiction, plus technical and non-technical Science); Mom to great boy on the Autism spectrum; possessor of too many hobbies.

T is for Tapocyon – #AtoZChallenge – 2017 – Uintan Mammals

T is for Tapocyon

Tapocyon is a genus of miacid carnivores that lived during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs of North America. It was a climbing mammal that likely spent a great amount of time in trees.

Life reconstruction of Tapocyon robustus.
Credit: Nobu Tamura CC 4.0 By SA

How Do You Break Down Wood to Make Bioethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 114

#365papers for April 24, 2017

Grigoras, Stroe, Sintamarean, and Rosendahl, 2017, Effect of biomass pretreatment on the product distribution ad composition resulting from the hydrothermal liquefaction of short rotation coppice willow: Bioresource Technology, v. 231, p. 116-123.

What’s it about?

There are lots of ways to pretreat wood in order to optimize the ability to get ethanol out of it. Here, the authors discuss using water, heat, and alkaline solutions to prepare willow for hydrothemal liquifaction to get ethanol out.Continue reading “How Do You Break Down Wood to Make Bioethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 114”

Making Ethanol? Grow Black Locust – #365papers – 2017 – 113

#365papers for April 23, 2017

Gonzalez-Garcia, Moreira, Feijoo, and Murphy, 2012, Comparative life cycle assessment of ethanol production from fast-growing wood crops (black locust, eucalyptus and poplar): Biomass & Bioenergy, v. 39, p. 378-388.

What’s it about?

Fast growing wood is a potential source for sugars that can be fermented to alcohols. This paper discusses three of the most commonly grown woods and their relative ‘goodness’ for use as a source for ethanol.Continue reading “Making Ethanol? Grow Black Locust – #365papers – 2017 – 113”

How Best Can We Ferment Sugar and Starch to Make Ethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 112

#365papers for April 22, 2017

Bai, Anderson, and Moo-Young, 2008, Ethanol fermentation technologies from sugar and starch feedstocks: Biotechnology Advances, v. 26, p. 89-105.

What’s it about?

This paper compares in detail the fermentation capabilities of two different microorganisms, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and Zymomonas mobilis (bacteria) for making ethanol from organic materials. Each have their pros and cons, thought it appears that overall Saccharomyces is the better alternative.

The authors also discuss challenges with the fermentation process, especially with obtaining a pure resultant ethanol while maintaining a healthy population of microorganisms.Continue reading “How Best Can We Ferment Sugar and Starch to Make Ethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 112”

How Best Can We ‘Grow’ Ethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 111

#365papers for April 21, 2017

Sanchez and Cardona, 2008, Trends in biotechnological production of fuel ethanol from different feedstocks: Bioresource Technology, v. 99, p. 5270-5295.

What’s it about?

This paper a review paper summarizing all the various sources of bioethanol (derived from crops) and the methods for obtaining that ethanol.Continue reading “How Best Can We ‘Grow’ Ethanol? – #365papers – 2017 – 111”

Ethanol Can Help – #365papers – 2017 – 110

#365papers for April 20, 2017

Farrell, Plevin, Turner, Jones, O’Hare, and Kammen, 2006, Ethanol can contribute to energy and environmental goals: Science, v. 311, p. 506-508.

What’s it about?

An important question about producing ethanol from crops is whether or not the energy costs of production outweigh the energy gained from the ethanol produced. The authors here take six previous studies that had very different results and come up with a means to compare them. In doing so, they are able to show where ethanol can, in fact, yield greater energy than it costs to produce.Continue reading “Ethanol Can Help – #365papers – 2017 – 110”