Previous Year Question
According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
Cassava
Damaged wheat grains
Groundnut seeds
Horse gram
Rotten potatoes
Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
1, 2, 5 and 6
1, 3, 4 and 6
2, 3, 4 and 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 expanded the range of permitted raw materials for ethanol production.
The Policy provided for the production of bioethanol from sugar-containing, starch-containing and cellulosic materials.
Cassava is a starch-containing crop and can be used for ethanol production. Therefore, item 1 is correct.
Damaged food grains unfit for human consumption may be used for ethanol production.
Therefore, damaged wheat grains are included among the permitted raw materials. Hence, item 2 is correct.
Starch present in rotten potatoes unfit for human consumption may be used for ethanol production. Therefore, item 5 is correct.
Sugar beet contains fermentable sugars and can serve as a raw material for ethanol production. Therefore, item 6 is correct.
Sugar-containing raw materials may also include sugarcane juice, sugar beet and sweet sorghum.
Starch-containing raw materials may include corn, cassava, damaged wheat, broken rice and rotten potatoes.
Bagasse, agricultural residues, forestry residues and wood waste may serve as raw materials for cellulosic ethanol.
Groundnut is an edible oilseed and is not included in the list of permitted ethanol feedstocks referred to in the question. Therefore, item 3 is not correct.
Horse gram is a pulse crop and has also not been listed as a permitted raw material for this purpose. Therefore, item 4 is not correct.
First-generation ethanol is mainly produced from sugar- and starch-containing crops.
Second-generation ethanol is produced from agricultural residues and lignocellulosic biomass.
Using unfit or damaged food grains may help reduce food waste and increase fuel production, but the protection of food security is necessary.