The process illustrates the cycle of producing ethanol, a type of biofuel.
In general, ethanol production consists of three primary stages: harvesting and pre-processing plant materials, chemically converting them into ethanol, and using the fuel for transportation, with the cycle then recommencing.
At the start of the process, plants and trees grow as they absorb energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Once fully grown, they are harvested before being put into a pre-processing machine, which breaks them down into smaller components to extract cellulose.
The second stage begins with the cellulose being transported to a laboratory, where it is processed into sugars. Microbes are subsequently added to these sugars, resulting in the creation of ethanol.
Finally, ethanol is used for various modes of transportation, including cars, trucks, and airplanes. During the use of ethanol as fuel, carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere, which is reabsorbed by plants and trees, continuing the cycle.