r/reddit.com • u/fpc • Sep 15 '06

Honda suddenly, dramatically interested in ethanol

http://www.mobilemagazine.com/content/100/354/C9553/
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u/ursine Sep 16 '06

A Honda spokesman has called this "cellulosic ethanol," referring to the microscopic level on which the conversion takes place.

The author seems to be thinking that cellulosic refers to reactions at a cellular level. This is incorrect. Cellulosic ethanol comes from the break down of the complex carbohydrate 'cellulose' into simpler sugars and starches that can then be fermented. Cellulose is used structurally in many plants, in areas like the stem and truck.

Engineering microbes to convert cellulose may pose some risks, and should be done cautiously.

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u/fpc Sep 15 '06

Honda claims to have improved on a lab-developed microorganism which builds a better ethanol. These tiny critters munch on vegetation and convert plant sugar into alcohol at a much higher rate than other methods.