Analysis of Innovative Feedstock Sources and
Production Technologies for Renewable Fuels
EPA Cooperative Agreement XA-83379501-0

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Alternative Feedstocks for Production of Biodiesel and Ethanol Transportation Fuels
Home   Final Report Report Chapters and Full Download   Briefing Material Project Summary   Learning Modules Freshman Level Biofuels Module Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate Engineering Module     Video Presentations Alternative Feedstocks For Biofuels - Full Movie (32 min) Alternative Feedstocks For Biofuels - Chapter Clips Alternative Feedstocks For Biofuels - Webisodes   Publications Energy-Water Nexus for Mass Cultivation of Algae		Corn and soy are currently used to produce nearly all of the biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) in the United States. Cellulosic ethanol, while not currently produced in large quantities, is also considered to be a promising biofuel pathway. The purpose of this study was to consider alternative feedstocks that could be converted to biodiesel or ethanol using the well understood processes of fermentation or transesterification and which are not currently used to make biofuels in the US. Four different feedstocks were considered: sugar cane, citrus waste, cottonseed, and microalgae. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach was used to examine the land occupation requirements, water use, net energy, and emissions to air, including greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).   Environmental Metrics     Although the research described on this web site has been funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through cooperative agreement XA-83379501-0, it has not been subjected to the Agency's required peer and policy review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.