Water embodied in bioethanol in the United States
Chiu, Y; Walseth, B; Suh, S
HERO ID
200045
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Supplemental Data
Year
2009
Language
English
PMID
| HERO ID | 200045 |
|---|---|
| Material Type | Supplemental Data |
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2009 |
| Title | Water embodied in bioethanol in the United States |
| Authors | Chiu, Y; Walseth, B; Suh, S |
| Journal | Environmental Science & Technology |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Page Numbers | 2688-2692 |
| Abstract | Prior studies have estimated that a liter of bioethanol requires 263-784 L of water from corn farm to fuel pump, but these estimates have failed to account for the widely varied regional irrigation practices. By using regional time-series agricultural and ethanol production data in the U.S., this paper estimates the state-level field-to-pump water requirement of bioethanol across the nation. The results indicate that bioethanol?s water requirements can range from 5 to 2138 L per liter of ethanol depending on regional irrigation practices. The results also show that as the ethanol industry expands to areas that apply moreirrigatedwaterthan others,consumptivewaterappropriation by bioethanol in the U.S. has increased 246% from 1.9 to 6.1 trillion liters between 2005 and 2008, whereas U.S. bioethanol production has increased only 133% from 15 to 34 billion liters during the same period. The results highlight the need to take regional specifics into account when implementing biofuel mandates. |
| Doi | 10.1021/es8031067 |
| Pmid | 19475935 |
| Wosid | WOS:000265172800007 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Comments | N1-Water embodied in bioethanol in the United StatesID-1435 |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Is Peer Review | Yes |
| Is Qa | No |
| Relationship(s) |