Economic analysis for production of fuel ethanol with corn straw

In order to analyze the current economics of cellulosic ethanol from corn straw, this study was based on the case of corn straw cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant with scale of 300 t/a. An analysis on technical parameters of processes and the production cost was performed. The results showed that corn straw saccharification rate, ethanol concentration and ethanol production rate were 51.6%, 23 g/L and 18.1%, respectively. In addition, the results of economic indicators indicated that cost of production, energy consumption, water consumption were approximately 7 385￥/t, 3.26×107 kJ/t and 12.8 t/t, respectively; the cellulase cost is one of the key factors on the cost of cellulosic ethanol production. With the development of key technology of cellulosic ethanol and its technical engineering, the cost of corn straw cellulosic ethanol will further reduce, and exhibit enormous potential and application prospects.