[Gasification] Mass vs Volumetric density

[Mark Ludlow]

Dear Benjamin,

I originally intended my reply to be lighthearted (I don't eat much meat)
but after I sent it I began to think about the broader implications of land
use for convertible energy production.

Really, sucrose is not an essential nutrient, although a "spoonful of sugar
helps the medicine go down". Given the direct route of sugar cane to ethanol
(compared to, say, corn) cane wins every time. It is so competitive that the
US is forced to place unreasonable tariffs on the importation of Brazilian
ethanol to protect a US industry that is supported only by taxpayer
subsidies.

Bagasse is the "hog fuel" of sugar plants. In my thinking, the focus of
research should be directed toward the utilization of this fibrous mass for
other uses, particularly as feedstocks for gasification. (Yes, I realize
that this has been an ongoing topic of discussion on this List.)

Hopefully, there are those on this list that can educate me about the net
energy balance of a typical sugar operation--from raw cane to fermentable
liquid. There's a fair amount of mechanical (and human) energy required, I
realize, as well as thermal evaporation if syrups are crystallized, but I'm
assuming that the whole process--at its leat efficient--shames corn ethanol
efficiency.

Raising cattle seems like a losing proposition, at least until technologists
can instruct us how to produce ribeye steaks from stem cells in a Petri
dish. Sugar cane is native to SE Asia, but its sustainability there, over
the millennia, probably depended upon a repeatable cycle of return of
biomass to the soil. Can it grow with only air, water and sunlight?

Best regards,
Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Benjamin
Domingo Bof
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 12:09 PM
To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Mass vs Volumetric density

Dear Mark; this is an market challenge. In Angatuba where we work , José
Policarpo Lopes have an column to distill ethanol. If he produce 96 ethanol
receives half part of money than sale "cachaça" (like caribbean "ron") and
45 alcohol is twice volume than 96. Then in money when produce in small
scale is impossible to produce at great distillers price. Major Jose Emilio
Carlos Lisboa was build an column without technical license, weldings are
not under standards, have no license to produce ethanol from ANP and boiler
have not pressure test. We came two years ago to work in combined
preoduction of ethanol an wood gas but we are discriminated and denied to
work in migrant tasks making tools from steel scrap. We claim last friday to
ILO (International Labour Organization) because is an political prosecution.
Lisboa is Fidel Castro friend and was "imported" an doctor from La Habana
givng all facilities.
  Regards ;Benjamin

Mark Ludlow <mark at ludlow.com> escribió:
  You wrote:

Dear Doctor Thomas B. Reed,

Thank you for the comment. Is very important to clear concepts separating
hard from soft. Of course energy contents of dry matter is similar, we says
in spanish "cord" ;"stereo" but division is important to clasify uses of
firewood. Soft need less acid to make cellulose than hard then free energy
is better for burn with hard and soft is better not only for chemical
processes but using it for breed cattle. Remenber 14 Kilo of sugar cane
yields one kilo ethanol but 17 kilo is one kilo of meat ;what do you think
what is better? to drink alcohol or eat meat?



Dear Benjamin,

What do you think is better? Eating meat or drinking rum?

It's a tough call!

Mark


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