The diagram drawn below clearly illustrates the cycle of ethanol which is considered a biofuel. There are seven steps until ethanol reaches a level where it is used as fuel.
The entire process commences when trees and plants require energy to grow. This energy has two main components: carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight absorbed by plants and trees. Later, these plants and trees are harvested and fed into a preprocessing unit. The outcome is cellulose which begins the processing phase to form sugar molecules. In the end, special microbes are added so that ethanol can be produced.
The produced ethanol is fuel for airplanes, trucks, and cars. Once consumed, carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere. The CO2 later cycles back to be absorbed by more trees and plants. Overall, ethanol’s journey to becoming a biofuel is lengthy; its application ranges from passenger cars to ground logistics and even aviation.