Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Production of Cellulosic Ethanol from Mixed Paper; An Analysis of United States Ethanol Production & Policy269 views
Author
Sirot, Michael, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Advisors
Anderson, Eric, Chem Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Elliott, Travis, STS Dept, University of Virginia
Abstract
This thesis project studies the production of ethanol in the United States through a technical project, which investigates the potential for production of ethanol using a non-competitive renewable resource as the primary feedstock, and a research project, which studies the current landscape of the ethanol industry in the U.S.. For the technical portion, a team of students designed a chemical processing plant utilizing recycled mixed papers to produce fuel-grade ethanol, with the goal of creating a process that is economically viable when compared to current production methods. This project ultimately found that while the plant design was technically feasible, it was not economically feasible as the cost of the plant and the materials was too high to generate profit with this design. For the research portion of the thesis, I researched and analyzed the use of cellulosic ethanol in the United States in the present and attempted to determine what factors are currently limiting its use as a renewable and sustainable energy and fuel source. These two projects are closely related as they research factors that are currently impeding widespread adoption of cellulose-based production methods. These methods currently have reduced economic viability and incentive over current methods used in the United States that are already heavily invested into and are more profitable, especially when compared to methods that use corn as the primary feedstock. However, cellulosic ethanol has many benefits over corn-based production with regards to sustainability and land use that encourage further research towards an economically competitive process for future development.
Degree
BS (Bachelor of Science)
Keywords
Cellulosic; Ethanol; Paper; Renewable Energy
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Eric Anderson
STS Advisor: Sean Travis Elliott
Technical Team Members: Alicia Brasselle, Austin Scaglione, Brendan Feeley, Nicholas Seyler
Language
English
Rights
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Sirot, Michael. Production of Cellulosic Ethanol from Mixed Paper; An Analysis of United States Ethanol Production & Policy. University of Virginia, School of Engineering and Applied Science, BS (Bachelor of Science), 2021-05-15, https://doi.org/10.18130/tazw-4029.