FOUR GENERATIONS OF RAW MATERIALS USED FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The problem of depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the generation of pollutants from their combustion has sparked a search for alternative fuels such as ethanol. In several countries, ethanol produced from sugarcane and maize is mixed with gasoline and used as fuel for transport vehicles. This has decreased generation of pollutants and dependence on international oil prices, especially in countries that do not produce oil. To produce ethanol, low-cost raw material, such as lignocellulosic residues, agricultural crops with a high starch content, algae and others have been tested. In this essay, we analyze four generations of raw material for ethanol production. We mention current research interest in transformation processes and alternatives to improve production processes to yield ethanol fuel at a lower cost.