Sugarcane for bioethanol production: Potential of bagasse in Chinese perspective

Being a massive grower of sugarcane, China could use this crop in the biofuel sector. However, this critical aspect of the sugarcane crop in China has not been extensively explored. Therefore, this review analyzed the country's potential, bottlenecks, and a critical analysis of policies vs. the Brazilian model of sugarcane derived biofuels. The study determined that Brazilian sugarcane production significantly varied from Chinese conditions regarding first-generation ethanol production. The first-generation ethanol production is also constrained due to high domestic demands of sugar. However, sugarcane bagasse showed higher theoretical yield potential, density distribution, and cost-efficiency for disintegration in this study. Therefore, it was inferred that bagasse-based (second-generation) ethanol has excellent prospects as it does not obligate any separate transportation costs like other lignocellulosic resources and have relatively less cell wall recalcitrance requirements. Moreover, already available vast quantities of bagasse and backing from government policies also make it the right choice for engendering fuel ethanol. Although cost-effectiveness of second-generation ethanol of sugarcane introduces a hurdle, recent developments in process efficiency, as well as genetic manipulation of sugarcane for cell-wall digestibility, can play a paramount role in augmenting sugarcane's role in this sector. Furthermore, the improvement of sugarcane varieties, the adoption of mechanized production, and the exploration of germplasm resources for energy traits are ascertained as crucial factors for augmenting the commercial aptness of sugarcane bioethanol. The enhanced role of sugarcane in China's biofuels sector would contribute to energy security, sustainable sugarcane production, industrial development, and socioeconomic betterment of the sugarcane farming areas.