GM: Mascoma ethanol process works as promised in laboratory testing
Back in February, Mascoma opened its first pilot plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol. According to General Motors, which invested in Mascoma and its unique method for producing the alcohol, Mascoma's consolidated bioprocessing process has proven successful in a laboratory environment.Unlike most processes for creating cellulosic ethanol, Mascoma uses a specially developed strain of yeast that cuts a three-step process down to one single step, which allows the ethanol producer to reduce the cost of creating the fuel, improve the plant's throughput and lower the cost associated with building the plant.
Cellulosic ethanol may turn into an important piece of the larger puzzle of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. If nothing else, it's a much better solution than the corn-based ethanol we're currently saddled with. Want to know more about cellulosic ethanol? Click here to read our past Greenlings post on the subject.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gary 11:19AM (5/11/2009)
This is a great idea. Cheap ethanol that doesn't require growing food to feed cars. I wonder where Coskata is right now?
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