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Science 5 October 1979:
Vol. 206. no. 4414, pp. 24 - 29
DOI: 10.1126/science.206.4414.24
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Articles

High-Grade Fuels from Biomass Farming: Potentials and Constraints

Paul B. Weisz 1 and John F. Marshall 2

1 Manager of the research staff of the Central Research Division of Mobil Research and Development Corporation, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
2 Member of the research staff of the Central Research Division of Mobil Research and Development Corporation, Princeton, New Jersey 08540

The key parameters controlling the productivity and the cost of net high-grade fuel from a system for biomass agriculture and conversion are analyzed. Performance depends sensitively on a "symbiotic" interaction between agronomy and technology. The conditions for obtaining net productivity and costs are explored for U.S. grain alcohol as a reference point. Currently practiced technology consumes more high-grade fuel than it generates. Some potentials and constraints for future systems, including use of other plant species and conversion systems, are explored.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
High-Grade Fuels and Biomass Farming.
B. G. KYLE (1980)
Science 210, 807-808
   PDF »
High-Grade Fuels and Biomass Farming.
P. B. WEISZ and J. F. MARSHALL (1980)
Science 210, 808
   PDF »
Catalytic Production of High-Grade Fuel (Gasoline) from Biomass Compounds by Shape-Selective Catalysis.
P. B. WEISZ, W. O. HAAG, and P. G. RODEWALD (1979)
Science 206, 57-58
   Abstract »    PDF »


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