Biomass (1 Viewer)

[darkwarrior2]

This is the 2003 question 20 on biomass, is it basically asking the suitability of ethanol as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry? im not quite certain on it.
Or is it cellulose? since cellulose is a major component of biomass.

Asses the suitability of biomass as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry. (5 Marks) Thanks.

 

[Dreamerish*~]

This is the 2003 question 20 on biomass, is it basically asking the suitability of ethanol as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry? im not quite certain on it.
Or is it cellulose? since cellulose is a major component of biomass.

Asses the suitability of biomass as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry. (5 Marks) Thanks.

Why not use both?

 

[serge]

Dreamerish is right

because the syllabus asks you to
describe how biomass=cellulose and cellulose contains
the 'basic carbon chains' that allows you to make
petrochemicals, and since petrochemicals can be used
for fuel AND industry you can use both...

This isnt really what the markers want, they want you to
ASSESS its 'suitability' and potential bla bla bla...

is it basically asking the suitability of ethanol as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry?

I'd say no, because since the syllabus talks about
petrochemicals you shouldnt get hellbent on ethanol
I think if they wanted to ask you about ethanol they would
word the question differently

 

[darkwarrior2]

Thanks

Thanks heaps, i kind of get it now, biomass is a renewable resource and could be used as a potential raw material for the production of petrochemicals reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
However is a method available for breaking the carbon sections of cellulose? In hsconline (hsc.csu.edu.au) it says

"If a chemical process can be developed or a micro-organism found that can break the glucose into three carbon-chains and four carbon-chains this would be very useful. Many polymers are made using three carbon monomers "

 

[Riviet]

Thanks heaps, i kind of get it now, biomass is a renewable resource and could be used as a potential raw material for the production of petrochemicals reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
However is a method available for breaking the carbon sections of cellulose? In hsconline (hsc.csu.edu.au) it says

There is, but i don't think we need to know it for the HSC.

 

[serge]

There is, but i don't think we need to know it for the HSC.

no there isnt
thats why there is a good potential
if someone found a way to turn cellulose into
petrochemicals they'd be ridiculously rich by now

the closest we are right now is biodiesel being made
from vegetable oils

 

[Dreamerish*~]

no there isnt
thats why there is a good potential
if someone found a way to turn cellulose into
petrochemicals they'd be ridiculously rich by now

the closest we are right now is biodiesel being made
from vegetable oils

No, no. There is.

The extremely high cost holds it back from large-scale manufacture.

 

[serge]

No, no. There is.

The extremely high cost holds it back from large-scale manufacture.

oh well, then that person will have to wait a few decades
till it becomes viable to get ridiculously rich

BTW- I dont think the markers would care since they
ask for the FUTURE uses of it, so even if it exists
now I'd say that there is a good potential, bla bla bla...

 

[Sirius Black]

This is the 2003 question 20 on biomass, is it basically asking the suitability of ethanol as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry? im not quite certain on it.
Or is it cellulose? since cellulose is a major component of biomass.

Asses the suitability of biomass as a future source of energy and chemicals for industry. (5 Marks) Thanks.

I went throught the Comments from examiners for 2003 HSC and it says most responses refer to "ethanol, cellulose, ethene" for the question. The first two is right. but how could ethene become biomass?

 

[Abtari]

biomass refers to compounds, usually organic, that are found in or derived from living things, e.g. cellulose from plants, ethanol isn't really in a living system but, like we have seen, it can be manufactured from the fermentation from glucose which is found in plants as well... in the form of starch and cellulose (alpha and beta glucose polymers respectively)

but i relli doubt that ethanol would be considered as biomass as such. if i were doing that question, i would just focus on the potential of cellulose. note that the syllabus has not used the term biomass in conjunction with ethanol. it has only used it in relation to cellulose. do not confuse urself with the different ideas.

and the reason why ethene is not biomass is for the same reason... it is not found in or derived from a living organism

 

[serge]

I went throught the Comments from examiners for 2003 HSC and it says most responses refer to "ethanol, cellulose, ethene" for the question. The first two is right. but how could ethene become biomass?

I dont think ethene can BECOME biomass, but if biomass turn into
petrochemicals then biomass can become ethene

BTW- just because most people refered to those 3 doesnt mean they were right?

 

[mynameisgone]

cellulose ---->(acid hydrolysis)--glucose--->(fermentation)--ethanol---->(dehydration)--ethene

then assess process, ie many steps, costly, energy, impact of acids.... on environment.
new processes use of biotech such as bacteria, enzymes make it viable