Can news print and paper be a resource for Alcohol?

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Any substance made up of sugars or compounds made from sugars (such as starches) is a potential source of alcohol of some sort. Whether it is feasible or not is another question. The maize to alcohol boondoggle uses more energy than it produces. If it didn't mean votes from the Midwest, it never would have passed....Show more

Yes, it could, but the ink on the paper could potentially cause a problem. Remanufacturing it into new paper is simpler and cheaper and makes more environmental sense though.

And as far as concerning converting corn into Ethanol it is energy efficient. I've read numerous articles on the subject. Even the conversion of cellose to alcohol is energy efficient, it is just more costly right now because the method has yet to be perfected and cellose is a little harder to convert. With the implementation of the right kind of cellulose eating bacteria though, converting cellulose to alcohol could become very cheap and efficient.

Also, the use of corn to make Ethanol isn't by far what has caused the raise in food prices it makes up only a very small percentage of the increase. The increase is due mainly to the rise is transportation and fuel costs. It costs more for farmers to fuel their tractors. It costs over double of what it did only a couple years ago for fertilizer now. And the cost of transporting the food to the stores has increased also.

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