Research and development (R&D) in bioethanol focuses on using lignocellulosic or woody materials as feedstocks

 Research and development (R&D) in bioethanol focuses on using lignocellulosic or woody materials as feedstock. This includes:

Feedstock selection

Using agricultural residues, forest residues, waste woods, municipal solid wastes, and short rotation energy crops like willow, miscanthus, eucalyptus, and popular 

Pretreatment

Making the biomass easier to convert into fermentable sugar by increasing its surface area and removing hemicellulose 

Hydrolysis

Converting complex carbohydrates into simple monomers using enzymes or microbes 

Fermentation

Using microorganisms as catalysts to convert reducing sugar from cellulose into bioethanol 

Genetic modification

Improving the metabolic efficiency of microorganisms and the uptake and storage of carbon dioxide in feedstocks 

Some other things to consider in bioethanol production include: 

Cost

Lignocellulosic biomass is less expensive than food crops, especially waste streams with little or negative economic value. 

Environmental impact

Lignocellulosic bioethanol has the potential to save up to 90% in greenhouse gases. 

Food-to-fuel debate

There are issues around the debate of whether to use food f

or bioethanol production.