A switchgrass$-$based cellulosic ethanol biorefinery produces about $60$ million

gallon$/$y of liquid biofuels $($mainly$,$ ethanol$)$ and an unknown amount of ligninbased chemicals as a co$-$product. The biorefinery operates $24$ hr a day and $300$

$2$

days a year. The expected ethanol yield from switchgrass is about $80$ gal per dry

tonne.

$($a$)$ For the given capacity of a biorefinery, what is the total biomass required

annually $($in dry tonnes$)$

$($b$)$ what is the daily rate of biomass supply $($dry tonne$/$day$)$ to a biorefinery for an

uninterrupted operation?

$($c$)$ Also, what is the land area $($ha$)$ required for supplying the total amount of

switchgrass to a biorefinery, if the average switchgrass yield is assumed as $5$ dry

tonne$/$acre$?$