Rice Plant Leaves as a Low-Cost Feedstock for Bioethanol Production: A Techno-Economic Analysis

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has led to the exploration of alternative feedstock for bioethanol production. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of using rice plant leaves as a low-cost feedstock for bioethanol production. A comprehensive analysis of the production process, including pre-treatment, hydrolysis, fermentation and distillation, was conducted.  The results show that the rice plant leaves can be converted into bioethanol with a yield of 250L/t, at a minimum production cost. The study also identifies the areas for the process of optimisation, including pre-treatment and enzyme hydrolysis, to further reduce the production costs. A sensitive analysis reveals that the production cost is more sensitive to the cost of enzymes and transportation. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of rice plant leaves as a low-cost feedstock for bioethanol production, offering a promising solution for renewable energy production.