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Article analysis:

The article "Biorefinery ethanol upgrading: Opportunities and challenges" discusses the potential of using ethanol as a precursor to make jet fuel and other transportation fuels. The article highlights the availability of feedstock from starch sugar and lignocellulosic biomass, technological maturity of fuel ethanol conversion, and the “blend wall” issue as factors that make ethanol a promising feedstock for producing fuel. However, the article fails to provide a balanced view of the potential risks associated with using ethanol as a precursor to make jet fuel.

One-sided reporting is evident in the article's failure to discuss the environmental impact of using corn-based ethanol. While it is true that GHG emissions from corn-based ethanol are about 39% lower than gasoline, this does not take into account the environmental impact of growing corn for biofuel production. Corn production requires large amounts of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which can have negative impacts on soil health and water quality.

The article also fails to address concerns about food security. Using corn for biofuel production can lead to higher food prices and food shortages in developing countries where corn is a staple crop. This issue has been raised by several organizations, including Oxfam International.

Another missing point of consideration is the potential impact on biodiversity. Converting natural habitats into agricultural land for biofuel production can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, which can have negative impacts on wildlife populations.

The article also contains promotional content that presents catalytic upgrading of ethanol to hydrocarbon fuels as a solution without fully exploring its limitations or potential risks. For example, while catalytic upgrading may be cost-effective under certain conditions such as high CO2 electrolysis energy efficiency and low electricity cost, it may not be economically viable in all situations.

Overall, while the article provides useful information about opportunities and challenges associated with biorefinery ethanol upgrading, it fails to provide a balanced view of potential risks associated with using ethanol as a precursor to make jet fuel. The article's promotional content and one-sided reporting may be influenced by the funding source, which is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office.