Journal of Energy Bioscience 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 53-63 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 58 sugar recoveries and ethanol yields (Amaducci et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2020; Ji et al., 2021). The economic feasibility of such projects is also promising, with hemp showing competitive bioethanol yields compared to other energy crops like corn and sorghum (Das et al., 2017; Viswanathan et al., 2021). Figure 2 Industrial applications of hemp plant. (Reproduced with permission from Farinon et al., 2020) (Adopted from Ji et al., 2021) 7.2 Example 2: hemp biodiesel pilot in North America In North America, a pilot project has been initiated to produce biodiesel from industrial hemp. This project leverages the lipid content of hemp biomass to produce biodiesel. Simulation results indicate that hemp with a lipid content of 2% can yield up to 3.95 million gallons of biodiesel annually, with production costs comparable to soybean biodiesel when lipid content is increased to 10% (Viswanathan et al., 2021). The project also explores the co-production of bioethanol from the carbohydrates in hemp, enhancing the overall economic viability (Moscariello et al., 2021; Viswanathan et al., 2021). 7.3 Example 3: hemp-based biogas production in China China has been exploring the potential of industrial hemp for biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD). Different hemp biomass residues, including fibers, stalks, and hurds, have been evaluated for their biochemical methane potential (BMP). Raw fibers have shown the highest BMP, while pretreatment methods have been effective in enhancing methane production from other residues (Ingrao et al., 2020; Matassa et al., 2020). The integration of hemp cultivation for biogas production aligns with China's goals for sustainable energy and waste management (Amaducci et al., 2015; Matassa et al., 2020). 8 Hemp in Advanced Biofuel Technologies 8.1 Prospects of hemp in cellulosic ethanol and second-generation biofuels Industrial hemp has shown significant potential as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol and other second-generation biofuels due to its high cellulose content and robust agronomic characteristics. Studies have demonstrated that hemp can yield ethanol at rates comparable to other lignocellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass and sorghum, with the added benefit of requiring fewer inputs (Das et al., 2017). The biological conversion of hemp biomass into bioethanol has been explored extensively, highlighting its potential to address both energy and environmental challenges (Ji et al., 2021). The effective utilization of all components of lignocellulosic biomass, including
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