Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are used by plants to store the energy of sunlight using photosynthesis. The term is most common in biochemistry, where it is a synonym of saccharide, a group that includes sugars, starch, and cellulose. [1] Carbohydrates contain oxygen atoms, while hydrocarbons do not. Their generic chemical formula is Cm(H2O)n.
Carbohydrates are one of the main components of food. The combustion of carbohydrates is one of the main sources of energy for cells. The synthesis of carbohydrates is not a process of the chemical industry at this time. Biological systems are required to produce carbohydrates in significant amounts.
- As an energy source, carbohydrates store about 4000 kilocalories per kg, or 17 MJ/kg.
Artificial carbohydrates
Artificial carbohydrates are possible (2). However they are not cost competitive on Earth. On Mars, they might provide significant gains compared to conventional agriculture. Much research is still needed.
References
(2) DINGER, Florian et PLATT, Ulrich. Towards an artificial carbohydrates supply on Earth. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2020, vol. 4, p. 90.
