The diagram illustrates the multi-stage process involved in producing ethanol.
Overall, the manufacturing of ethanol consists of a repetitive cycle consisting of three primary steps namely cultivation, treatment and consumption.
At the beginning of the process, grown plants and trees absorb energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Following this stage, the plants and trees are harvested before being pre-processed by a machine to produce small grains. Cellulose which is then extracted from the grains is used for the processing stage involving the use of different chemicals to produce sugars. Upon completion of this step, microbes are added to the sugar compounds from the cellulose to produce ethanol.
Subsequently, ethanol is ready for consumption as biofuel for some vehicles such as cars, lorries and planes. The engine of these vehicles then combusts the fuel and emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, generating energy for grown plants and trees. Afterward, the cycle repeats itself.