International Science Fair Fund (Brazil)

This past May, I competed at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) coming away with a 'Grand Award', 4th place in Chemistry and an invitation to enter another international fair. I was accepted, approved, and named a finalist in the 2013 MOSTRATEC International Science and Technology Fair (in Brazil) where I came away with the title of "Best of the United States" and an invitation to an International Environmental and Sustainability Competition in the Netherlands in June. Unfortunately, I do not have a sponsor and have to come up with the funds on my own. Any support would lead me that much closer to the Netherlands.

A little about my project:
For over four years I have investigated the production process of Cellulosic Ethanol. Cellulose is one of the main components in the cell wall of plants, counting for 60% of the biomass on the planet (talk about renewable!). Cellulose can be broken down into glucose and then fermented into ethanol, which can be used in place of gasoline. However, there are currently no Cellulosic Ethanol refineries in the US because of low-yielding production processes.
Over these past four years I have experimented, developed, and tested a novel method for Cellulosic Ethanol production which has reached an average of 97% total cellulose to ethanol conversion (the highest currently seen in the scientific community). It has also achieved a 1:4.73 input to output energy ratio, costing $0.25 per gallon to produce.

By competing at international fairs, I am in touch with many people in this area of research and with companies scouting from this industry; two invaluable commodities. With help, refining, and cooperation, we could start to see Cellulosic Ethanol decrease our dependence on foreign oil, improve the air quality, and create jobs right here at home.

Anything helps! Thank you all so much!

Any further questions about my project, don't hesitate to contact me!
Thank you!