Mustafa Balat Discusses Recent Trends of Bio-Ethanol Fuel
New Hot Paper Commentary, November 2010
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Article: Recent trends in global production and utilization of bio-ethanol fuel
Authors: Balat, M;Balat, H |
Mustafa Balat talks with ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about this month's New Hot Papers paper in the field of Engineering.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
I think this paper is the first most serious review article on bio-ethanol. Bio-ethanol has attracted considerable interest because the subject of motor fuel and its effect in the daily lives of people maintains a keen interest.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
Bio-ethanol production methods are not new, but in recent years have been significantly improved.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
"There are significant socioeconomic impacts associated with investment in a new power plant..."
Bio-ethanol as a motor fuel is attracting increasing attention worldwide, either acting as blending component or direct replacement for gasoline in Otto vehicle engines. Bio-ethanol is a renewable substitute fuel for petroleum-based gasoline fuel. Bio-ethanol has better properties than gasoline; it is renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
Bio-ethanol seems to be an important fuel for future use and it has become more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits. It can be used in any Otto engine, without modification.
Are there any social or political implications for
your research?
Serious problems face the world food supply today. The rapidly growing world population and rising consumption of fossil fuels is increasing demand for both food and bio-fuels. This will exaggerate both food and fuel shortages. Using food crops such as corn grain to produce ethanol raises major nutritional and ethical concerns.
The use of foodstuffs as raw materials for energy production, such as ethanol from maize and sugar cane, increases the prices of meat and milk. These factors increase the risk of scarcity. The drought and soil infertility increases the risk of human and animal nutrition. To reduce these risks application of food operating certificates should be initiated. For this purpose a food-using protocol must be organized with broad participation.
The socioeconomic impacts on a local economy arising from providing power
through renewable resources instead of conventional generation technologies
are very important. These impacts include direct and indirect differences
in jobs, income, and gross output. There are significant socioeconomic
impacts associated with investment in a new power plant, including
increases in employment, output, and income for the local and regional
economy.
Mustafa Balat
Sila Science & Energy Company
Trabzon, Turkey
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
KEYWORDS: BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION; WASTE MATERIALS; EUROPEAN-UNION; MOTOR FUEL; BIOFUELS; BIOMASS; BIODIESEL; LIQUEFACTION; POLICIES; XYLOSE.