Perspectives for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstock – A case study

Pakistan has limited indigenous resources of fossil fuel and the deficit is being filled through imports of crude oil and petroleum product. The country presently produces bio ethanol predominantly from molasses, a byproduct of the refining of sugarcane. Since promotion of 1^st-generation biofuels appears unsustainable because of the potential stress on food commodities, crop residues present a major opportunity for cleaner production through promotion of 2nd generation bio ethanol. Based on the evaluation of the availability of lignocellulosic biomass in Pakistan, this study forecasts the annual yield of five lignocellulosic feedstocks i.e. cotton stalks, sugarcane tops, rice straw, maize stalks and wheat straw from 2013 to 2030 in Pakistan with the help of Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Interface System Model. Based on the availability of biomass feedstock, the study forecasts the maximum theoretical potential for production of bio ethanol from these crop residues up to 2030. Our study also analyses the parameters affecting the basic price for the crop residue collection.