RAW MATERIALS

A wide variety of agricultural raw materials

The ethyl alcohol produced through alcoholic fermentation comes from a wide variety of agricultural raw materials, such as sugar beet, wheat, and corn, which are already widely cultivated. It is the same molecule found in alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, etc.).

Ethyl alcohol can also be produced through synthetic processes by the chemical industry from petroleum derivatives. However, the quantities produced are roughly 100 times lower than those of alcohol derived from biomass.

With technological advancements, lignocellulosic resources from agriculture or forests could also contribute to ethanol production once transformation and fermentation processes become competitive and industrially scalable within the EU.

The three main types of raw materials used to produce alcohol

Sugar beets

Main characteristic: rich in directly fermentable sugars (sucrose).

Wheat

Main characteristic: they contain starch, which is converted into glucose through enzymatic hydrolysis.