Japanese pilot tests look at new cellulosic feedstocks for ethanol

In Japan, companies are trialing out pilot tests of ethanol production using sago as a feedstock. The technology currently is used to produce ethanol in small quantities—20kg per hour—from rice straw, bagasse and other cellulosic materials. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mechatronics Systems Limited, Bio-Energy Corporation, Hyogo Environmental Advancement Association and Kobe University have been working on the technology for the past four years.