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Which crop is primarily used to produce biomass alcohol fuel or ethanol in India?
Rice
Sugarcane
Wheat
Corn
Sugarcane
In India, sugarcane is the primary feedstock for bioethanol production because of its high fermentable sugar content. The molasses left over after sugar extraction is processed through fermentation to produce ethanol.
In India, sugarcane is the primary feedstock for bioethanol production because of its high fermentable sugar content. The molasses left over after sugar extraction is processed through fermentation to produce ethanol.
Think of it like recycling: just as we reuse scrap metal to make new objects, the sugar industry uses 'molasses' (the sticky leftover 'scrap' of sugar production) to produce fuel.
C6тАЛH12тАЛO6тАЛyeastтАЛ2C2тАЛH5тАЛOH+2CO2тАЛ тАФ Chemical fermentation of glucose to ethanol
The process involves the fermentation of glucose or sucrose by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) under anaerobic conditions. The sugar is broken down into ethanol and carbon dioxide: C6тАЛH12тАЛO6тАЛтЖТ2C2тАЛH5тАЛOH+2CO2тАЛ. This biochemical conversion is efficient and scalable using the byproduct of the sugar industry.
Sugarcane is a C4 plant, making it highly efficient in biomass accumulation.
Ethanol blending (E20) is a major government initiative to reduce crude oil imports.
Molasses is a liquid byproduct of the sugar refining process, containing about 50% fermentable sugars.
Reduces carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels
Utilizes industrial waste (molasses)
Provides additional income to farmers
Requires significant water consumption for sugarcane cultivation
Competition between food and fuel production
Automotive fuel blending (E10, E20)
Industrial solvent production
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme targets 20% blending by 2025-26.
Wheat and corn are 'second-generation' potential feedstocks but are currently prioritized for food security in India.
B is correct тАФ Sugarcane remains the most commercially viable and primary source for bioethanol production in India due to the abundance of molasses byproduct.
In competitive exams, remember that while grain-based ethanol (corn/wheat) is common in the US, India relies heavily on sugarcane molasses for biofuel due to agrarian priorities.
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