Todd wrote: "Could you give some clarification as to theoretical yields of ethanol, methanol and other "value added" byproducts per metric ton of paper feedstock in the scenario you mention below, as well as energy inputs?
One could use yield data from virgin pulpwood as "baseline" and venture forward." One could indeed. The data are in the documents I forwarded to Keith yesterday. Doubtless they will soon be available on the Web. Basically, yields achieved with mineral acids are fractions of theoretical. "Also, I must ask why you wish to lash out at those who initiate mandatory recycling, when the eventual unintended consequences occur. Had such programs not been instituted, none of the benefits over the last 1/4 century would have been realized either." You make the common error of assuming that if it isn't obligatory, it won't get done. When you make it worth somebody's while to do something, he does it. When you compel him, you are practising slavery. There is also the problem of bureaucratic, one-size-MUST-fit-all "solutions" to problems often created by bureaucracy in the first place. Breathing is beneficial, but you can bet that if it were mandatory, half of us would be hyperventilating while the rest died of asphyxia. "The reason for price drops for retrieved waste paper is that the % of recovery relative to pulp industry re-use is imbalanced, creating a glut." And what caused that, I wonder? You blame the industry for not conforming its actions to political mandate - I blame the mandate. "The problem has never been with recovery, but gearing up and reconfiguring the pulp and paper industry. They have been petulant and, for the most part, fought the process virulently for 25 years, claiming that retrofits were too expensive until maximum mechanical utility had been realized on existing plants." Ever wondered whether they might have been telling the truth? Just a thought. "Even when the old plants "die," few serious industry attempts are made to configure new plants to maximize on retrieved fiber sources. It's not that the opportunities and technologies don't exist, rather the lack of responsibility and vision." Obviously what's needed is for farsighted, clear-thinking, enlightened people like yourself to move in and take over. I can't wait. Marc de Piolenc Iligan, Philippines Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
