The diagram illustrates the process by which ethanol biofuel is produced.
Overall, ethanol is manufactured through a cyclical process that begins with plant growth using sunlight and carbon dioxide and ends with the fuel being consumed by vehicles, which release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Initially, plants and trees grow by absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide. Once mature, they are harvested and undergo a pre-processing stage, after which cellulose is extracted. This cellulose is then processed into sugars, and microbes are added to ferment the sugars, resulting in the production of ethanol.
In the final stage, ethanol is used as a biofuel in various forms of transport, including cars, trucks, and aircraft. The combustion of ethanol releases carbon dioxide, which returns to the atmosphere and is reused during plant growth, completing the cycle.
