August 1, 2011
New Catalyst For Ethanol Made From Biomass
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Researchers potentially find a renewable path to fuel additives, rubber and solvents
The right balance of zinc and zirconium oxides in this catalyst (purple block) converts ethanol to isobutene with low amounts of unwanted byproducts such as acetone and ethylene.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Researchers in the Pacific Northwest have developed a new catalyst material that could replace chemicals currently derived from petroleum and be the basis for more environmentally friendly products including octane-boosting gas and fuel additives, bio-based rubber for tires and a safer solvent for the chemicals industry.
To make sustainable biofuels, producers want to ferment ethanol from nonfood plant matter such as cornstalks and weeds. Currently, so-called bio-ethanol’s main values are as a non-polluting replacement for octane-boosting fuel additives to prevent engine knocking and as a renewable replacement for a certain percentage of gasoline. To turn bio-ethanol into other useful products, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and at Washington State University have developed a new catalyst material that will convert it into a chemical called isobutene. And it can do so in one production step, which can reduce costs.
Reported by researchers in the Institute for Integrated Catalysis at PNNL and in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at WSU, the findings appeared July 21 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
“Isobutene is a versatile chemical that could expand the applications for sustainably produced bio-ethanol,” said chemical engineer Yong Wang, who has a joint appointment at PNNL in Richland, Wash. and at WSU in Pullman, Wash., and leads research efforts at both institutions.
In addition, this catalyst requires the presence of water, allowing producers to use dilute and cheaper bio-ethanol rather than having to purify it first, potentially keeping costs lower and production times faster.
No Z-Z-Z for the Weary
An important key to unlocking renewables to replace fossil fuel products is the catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that promotes chemical reactions of interest. The catalytic converter in a car, for example, speeds up chemical reactions that break down polluting gases, cleaning up a vehicle’s exhaust.
The PNNL and WSU researchers were trying to make hydrogen fuel from ethanol. To improve on a conventional catalyst, they had taken zinc oxide and zirconium oxide and combined both into a new material called a mixed oxide — the zinc and the zirconium atoms woven through a crystal of oxygen atoms. Testing the mixed oxide out, PNNL postdoctoral researcher Junming Sun saw not only hydrogen, but — unexpectedly — quite a bit of isobutene (EYE-SO-BEW-TEEN).
Hydrogen is great, but isobutene is better. Chemists can make tire rubber from it or a safer solvent that can replace toxic ones for cleaning or industrial uses. Isobutene can also be readily turned into jet fuel and gasoline additives that up the octane — that value listed on gas pumps that prevents an engine from knocking — such as ETBE.
Sun Shines
No one had ever seen a catalyst create isobutene from ethanol in a one-step chemical reaction before, so the researchers realized such a catalyst could be important in reducing the cost of biofuels and renewable chemicals.
Investigating the catalyst in greater depth, the researchers examined what happened when they used different amounts of zinc and zirconium. They showed that a catalyst made from just zinc oxide converted the ethanol mostly to acetone, an ingredient in nail polish remover. If the catalyst only contained zirconium oxide, it converted ethanol mostly to ethylene, a chemical made by plants that ripens fruit.
But the isobutene? That only arose in useful amounts when the catalyst contained both zinc and zirconium. And “useful amounts” means “a lot.” With a 1:10 ratio of zinc to zirconium, the mixed oxide catalyst could turn more than 83 percent of the ethanol into isobutene.
“We consistently got 83 percent yield with improved catalyst life,” said Wang. “We were happy to see that very high yield.”
Reactionary Insight
The researchers analyzed the chemistry to figure out what was happening. In the single metal oxides experiments, the zinc oxide created acetone while the zirconium oxide created ethylene. The easiest way to get to isobutene from there, theoretically speaking, is to convert acetone into isobutene, which zirconium oxide is normally capable of. And the road from ethanol to isobutene could only be as productive as Sun found if zirconium oxide didn’t get side-tracked turning ethanol into ethylene along the way.
Something about the mixed oxide, then, prevented zirconium oxide from turning ethanol into the undesired ethylene. The team reasoned the isobutene probably arose from zinc oxide turning ethanol into acetone, then zirconium oxide — influenced by the nearby zinc oxide — turning acetone into isobutene. At the same time, the zinc oxide’s influence prevented the ethanol-to-ethylene conversion by zirconium oxide. Although that’s two reaction steps for the catalyst, it’s only one for the chemists, since they only had to put the catalyst in with ethanol and water once.
More on New Catalyst For Ethanol Made From Biomass
Do you feel that the information that you have just read satisfies your curiosity about biofuels? If so, send us a message of affirmation. However, if you feel that there is a need for improvement, please also let us know where we can add more details. It is our goal to make this site the best resource for biofuels. Your feedback will be highly appreciated!
June 24, 2011
Ethanol Subsidies Voted Out
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Interesting article from the The Economist about the recent cut in ethanol subsidies. What do you think about ending these subsidies. Comment below to voice your opinion.
TWO of the iron rules of American politics are that Republicans don’t vote for higher taxes and only the foolhardy vote against Iowa. Both were broken on June 16th when senators from both parties voted by sizable margins to repeal a tax credit and tariff on ethanol.
Since 2004 blenders have received a credit, now worth 45 cents, for each gallon of ethanol they mix with regular gasoline (petrol). Most of the benefit flows down to farmers. And since 1980 domestic producers have also been protected by a 54 cent tariff on imports, which serves to keep out ethanol made more cheaply from Brazilian sugar cane.
Defenders say the credit and tariff reduce American dependence on imported fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But it is an inefficient way to do both. Because ethanol produces less energy than petrol and requires the burning of fossil fuels in its production, and because ethanol would still be used without a credit, the taxpayer pays about $1.78 to reduce petrol consumption by one gallon via corn-based ethanol. Taking everything into account, ethanol releases almost as much carbon dioxide as petrol does. As Michael Greenstone, the director of the Hamilton Project, a liberal research group, puts it, “Ethanol is largely farm support policy, not environmental policy.”
It would appear that the farm belt lobby has lost some weight in Congress. But maybe the reality of the situation has finally set in and fiscal and environmental sense has come back.
April 28, 2010
Ethanol – Where Can I Find It?
Matthew Keegan asked:
The growth of the ethanol industry has been a slow process, one where the automakers are way ahead of the game, building cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs which can run on either straight gasoline or a mixture of gas and ethanol, flex fuel vehicles (FFV) that now number in the millions. Lagging far behind are the number of available pumps able to dispense E85 fuel — which is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — the most common blend being marketed.
Where Can I Find Ethanol?
Ethanol fuel is currently available across the US except in six states which are: Hawaii, Alaska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. To date, more than 1400 locations are dispensing ethanol fuel, but the majority of them are in the corn growing states of the upper midwest. As ethanol is currently derived chiefly from corn, those states producing this grain are also the ones pushing the hardest to see that ethanol succeeds. Unfortunately, ethanol’s capacity is woefully limited, especially outside of those states.
The U.S. Department of Energy tracks the spread of ethanol pumps on its website at http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/ethanol_locations.html – There, visitors can view a map of the United States and click on their state to find where pumps are located. That list offers the name of the station, its address, type of access (public or private), and you can click on a link to a map that will show you where it is located.
In some cases, consumers are searching the internet themselves to find local E85 stations and comparing prices online. Please note this: even if E85 prices are 20% lower than the price of gasoline where you live, you probably will pay more for fuel over the long run. This is due to E85′s inefficient nature – you’ll achieve better performance by using this fuel, but it comes at a price. Specifically, running any car on E85 means a net increase in fuel consumption upwards of 30%.
Other Options For E85?
Because E85 is much less efficient then straight gasoline, there is a movement underfoot to sell different blends of this fuel to consumers. In Kansas, for example, one company is selling E50 fuel which is a 50-50 ethanol-gasoline blend. Government subsidies and introductory specials are keeping prices competitive, offering perhaps the best option for drivers.
Ultimately, thousands of more pump locations need to be set up across our country in order to make ethanol a viable option. Other methods of developing ethanol, cellulosic for example, can help drive down the cost which would make choosing an ethanol blend a wise one.
Until then ethanol is only widely available in four states and in blends that are simply fuel inefficient. True, the environment benefits every time a driver chooses E85, but with fuel costs at a higher amount than straight gasoline, few cash-strapped consumers will make the switch.
Jonathon Winburg asked:
If you drive a big vehicle like a Chevrolet Suburban you might consider the benefits of running it on ethanol. Most Suburbans that were manufactured in the past five years are flexible fuel vehicles that are capable of running on this type of alternative fuel.
Chances are good your Suburban costs you approximately $150 to fill at the gas station. This tank might get you in the city 300 miles if you are lucky. The fuel efficiency of ethanol provides a more affordable price per gallon at less than half. You might pay $70 to fill your tank with ethanol. In addition, you will also get over 350 miles to the tank. Not only will you save a lot of money when you use ethanol but you will not have to fill up your tank as often.
Another benefit you will benefit from is by running your vehicle with cleaner fuel. Gasoline burns very dirty. The fuel efficiency of ethanol burns clean with very little or no emissions at all. Although, you do still need to run engine oil in your vehicle when you use ethanol. The good news is you won’t have to change your oil as often anymore. Every time you check your oil you might find that it is clear and not black. Because ethanol burns so clean this means less maintenance on your vehicle also. You will have fewer problems and save money this way too.
The fuel efficiency of ethanol provides many benefits that are insurmountable. You already might be driving a vehicle like a Chevrolet Suburban and could really use the money in your pocket. Your vehicle will last you much longer by running cleaner and need less maintenance.
April 18, 2010
How To Make Ethanol – The Secrets Of Making Ethanol
Allen Walker asked:
Making ethanol is something that has grown in popularity over the last few years. If I were to guess it would be the record high oil prices doing the job, but that’s just my opinion. Much more of those high prices and there will be a number of people making ethanol in their own backyards.
Making ethanol is something that has actually been done for centuries. There were traces of alcohol found on a piece of pottery that is over nine thousand years old. It took until 1796 for the ethanol that we know today to be created. Johann Tobias Lowitz happened upon this by filtering distilled ethanol through charcoal. So obviously people have been making ethanol for quite some time. It wasn’t until we kept hearing the words oil shortage over and over again that we finally took action to try running it in our engines.
Ethanol is actually nothing more than moonshine. The same moonshine that was illegal in the days of prohibition is now being mass produced to power vehicles. I always thought people were kidding when they said that you could run a car on moonshine. Turns out that they were onto the right idea all along. Those that made moonshine probably didn’t know that they were really making ethanol. Actually the only difference between the moonshine that is created in backyard stills, and ethanol, is an additive. Without that additive those who made ethanol would have to pay alcohol taxes on the ethanol that they produce. But with an additive, such as gasoline, they are out of the alcoholic beverage category and into the gasoline category.
When making ethanol you will need basically two things aside from a little know how. You will have to have a working still and some corn. Actually you can use other grains such as barley or oats but many people use corn because of its high abundance. Once you have your still you will need to ground the corn or other grain so that it looks like corn meal. Place the meal, along with some enzymes, into your still with some water so that you have what looks like a watered down corn bread mixture and turn up the heat. When making ethanol you will have to turn up the heat on your still so that this mixture is on high heat.
When the time is ready the mixture will need to be removed from heat and thoroughly cooled. This is necessary for all the elements to work together properly. Yeast will also need to be added so that the fermentation can completely take place. The mash will need to be allowed to ferment for forty to fifty hours and stirred occasionally. Finally you will strain out the grains, leaving the liquid to be a nice alcoholic mixture, Ethanol.
April 9, 2010
6 Steps To Making e85 Ethanol At Home
Frederick Musser asked:
Step One: . . . The Conversion Process
We have to break down carbohydrate sugars, such as the starch from corn. Create it into “Mash”. Grind or crush the feedstock (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc…). Then dilute and add an enzyme (alpha amylase) to turn the mixture into a liquid. Once liquified a second enzyme is added(glucoamylase) to convert the starch into sugar. (If the source is mainly sugar, i.e…rotten fruit, molasses, etc…, the conversion step can be skipped.
Step Two: . . . Fermentation
Add yeast and make it into a beer (wine) type solution.
Step Three: . . . Distillation
The beer (wine) type solution needs to be run through a still to extract the alcohol from the solution.
Step Four: . . . Filtration
The ethanol now needs to be filtered to get rid of excess organic volatiles.
Step Five: . . . Dehydration
The ethanol needs to be “dried”. After the distillation process there will be a certain amount of water in the ethanol you have just created – this can be dried running the ethanol through Zeolite a readily available product for drying ethanol.
Step Six: . . . Ethanol Into e85
Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol. e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.
April 4, 2010
Cannabis DNA Modification for Use to Produce Ethanol
Lance Winslow asked:
Cannabis of course is known as marijuana and pot. It is associated with drug users and stoners. But if we can put away that stigma, we find that cannabis has four times the cellulose value as corn, making it a potentially good plant for ethanol production.
Now then, personally I do not do drugs or smoke pot so this article is without consideration of the stoners in the world or their potential support of this plant for ethanol. If cannabis grows so well all over the world it does make sense to look into its use for the making of ethanol.
If cannabis can be made into Ethanol then we need to modify it to make it work better and use those genetic differences which allow for low water in production to insure that we do not get price spikes in times of drought in the ethanol we use for fuel. Additionally if the plant can be used to “get high” then we need to modify it so that will not occur or that the leaching into the soil or waterways does not contain high levels of THC as it would be problematic.
If we further modify this cannabis weed then we need to make it with terminating seeds until we know what we have done, other wise it will become a “super weed” and take over natural cannabis and other close genetic species of weeds. In an online think tank recently a gentleman mentioned that;
“Ethanol/bio diesel is going to be the fuel source of the future for the rotary, eccentric crank, 4 and 2 cycle engines that run our cars boats trains and generator sets etc. I understand it burns far cleaner than the crude oil based hydrocarbon heavy fuels we use at present, and will minimize the pollution.”
So, it seems that we have another potential plant for cellulose ethanol production and this is a good thing, as the more options available the better for our goals in growing a percentage of our own fuel. So consider this in 2006.
Jonathon Winburg asked:
Ethanol is a clean burning fuel that barely burns any toxins into the air. Gasoline burns carbon dioxide into the air and harmful emissions that are responsible for the increase of global warming. It actually can reduce carbon monoxide emissions as low as 30%. As a matter of fact, it is the cleanest burning fuel on the market today. Home ethanol production is an excellent solution because you are making a clean fuel.
Harmful toxins are often emitted into the air through tailpipes causing fine particulate matter to go into the air. You can stand right in front of a tailpipe and breathe in the air of a vehicle running ethanol and it will not harm you at all. This is because there is nothing harmful coming out of your tailpipe anymore.
Ethanol is biodegradable. This means that you can accidentally spill it and it will not be harmful to the environment. It will not kill plants or cause water pollution. This is because it is made from natural elements. It is also not harmful to you if you spill it on your clothes or get it on your hands. This is what makes home ethanol production so safe.
Home ethanol production is an excellent solution to giving back to your environment in so many ways. There are thousands of people who can begin using ethanol today and stop emitting harmful fumes like carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. The emissions are clean and not harmful to the environment because they are biodegradable. Ethanol cannot harm you either if you touch it or if you inhale the fumes from the fuel.
Allen Walker asked:
Many people are wanting to learn more and more about how they can make their own ethanol. Basically you will need two very important things. Corn and an ethanol still. Of course there are other grains that you can use aside from corn but corn just happens to be grown in more places and so is a little easier to access. With gasoline prices reaching all time highs once a month it seems, the thought of having your own ethanol still to make ethanol just seems like good logic.
People have been making ethanol for centuries in ethanol stills that they constructed out of what they had. The ethanol that we know today was actually created way back in 1796 by filtering distilled ethanol through charcoal. Johann Tobias Lowitz discovered this process and if he knew what he would be doing for so many people two hundred years later, I bet he would be thrilled. Actually he probably would have celebrated by drinking a little of his creation after it went through his ethanol still. Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, has been made in backyard ethanol stills for decades. But it had a different name then. Then it was referred to as moonshine, or by some, white lightening. Moonshine was illegal in the days of prohibition but that didn’t stop those who loved their brew. They would make an ethanol still and hide it in the woods so that it wouldn’t be discovered. Some were lucky and never got caught while others had to face jail time. Men of all ages would make moonshine runs with cars that had to be fast so that they could outrun the law if need be. How times have changed. And people always said that you could run a car on moonshine, I just thought they were joking. Who’s laughing now?
An ethanol still is a very important part in the making of ethanol. In days gone by people would put together any type of contraption they could so that they could make their homemade ethanol. Now ethanol stills have been perfected so that they do just what is needed. There is still some disagreements as to which material is better to use. A lot of people prefer to use copper for the ability it has to heat evenly all over. Others like to use stainless steel for its corrosion resistance with each party assured that their way is the best. A lot of commercial stills are made out of copper as they want the uniform heating ability that is necessary to make it the same each and every time.
The ethanol still is necessary to heat the corn mash mixture but once its job is complete the mixture will then be transferred to a fermenter that will allow the mash to ferment. This is the place that the ethanol is made. Fermentation is necessary for proper ethanol production.
Having an ethanol still is going to be something that more and more people will see necessary. Many are starting to feel the crunch of the high gas prices and soon will have to do something different in order to live like they have been accustomed to.
Sanjay Kak asked:
One of the alternative fuel sought for oil or gasoline is Ethanol fuel . Any feed stock, which is based on carbon and after going through conversion process gives Ethanol. There is long list of carbon based items, such as sugar beets, corn, sugar cane, switch grass etc. The Ethanol fuel came in picture as clean alternate fuel and is environment friendly.
Currently Ethanol fuel is used as blend mixture with gasoline and is common at pump station across north America. It is also being used as oxygenate additive for gasoline and replacement for MTBE ingredient. The MTBE is a fuel compound which is responsible of contamination of ground water. Many states in America have put ban on use of MTBE and is being replaced by Ethanol.
Advantages of Ethanol fuel
The Ethanol fuel is a renewable, safe fuel and it can be used in cars with few modifications in car engine. Since crops such as corn, maize and sugar beats are used in making Ethanol fuel, it provides stable market to farmer community. This can be developed in any country without dependence on oil producing nations. The fuel is environment friendly.
Disadvantage of Ethanol Fuel
The cost of producing Ethanol as fuel is high, more research is needed in this regard. Although research is underway, the Ethanol fuel burns more for same distance as oppose to gasoline. Since Ethanol fuel is based on crops, vast land is needed to cultivate the crops and it puts pressure on other crops which are needed by humans for daily consumption. The waste product from ethanol production is toxic
March 12, 2010
How Ethanol Car Engines Work
Craig F Stevens asked:
Ethanol cars work in a way very similar to normal gasoline cars, and are a great viable alternative fuel option because of current high gas prices. The only real difference is that ethanol car engines are able to utilize the biofuel ethanol instead of oil based gasoline.
Ethanol fuel itself is extracted from plants such as corn or sugarcane, and refined into an alcohol. This alcohol is suitable to be used as a biofuel in cars and other vehicles. Most hybrid automobile engines that use ethanol can also use gasoline, and are also called “flex-fuel” engines. The ethanol is injected into the engine in the same way as a non-hybrid automobile engine. Though ethanol gives slightly less miles per gallon than gasoline, it doesn’t create as much air pollution when it is burned.
The similarities between ethanol “flex-fuel” engines and standard engines make ethanol cars cheaper than most alternative or hybrid vehicles, because they are built in much the same way as a regular engine. Ethanol is actually cheaper in some cases than gasoline, and thus a hybrid that runs on ethanol can be less expensive to operate than a gasoline based vehicle.
Most standard automobiles can even run on a 10% mixture of ethanol in gasoline. Many gas stations around the world offer ethanol as an alternative to gasoline, and in some countries cars are required to run on ethanol.
You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at ProHybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.
March 11, 2010
Understanding Bioalcohol and Ethanol Alternatives
Levi Quinn asked:
When it comes to the various types of fuel available for operating vehicles, it can be more than a little confusing. We all hear several terms and phrases used on TV and in the news but when you have no personal involvement; it’s hard to really understand it all. Ethanol is a word that most of us have heard many times. However, bioalcohol is a new term to most people. These are both viable alternatives to the regular petrol fuel most drivers are consuming today.
Bioalcohol is alcohol that is derived from natural resources, similar to ethanol. It does not come from petroleum in any way. It’s just one of the latest alternatives being considered as a replacement for petroleum which is both expensive and very hard on the environment in terms of emissions.
Ethanol is usually produced from corn. It is quite readily available in most places and in some places it is actually mandated. It lowers emissions efficiently by increasing oxygen levels. Ethanol is used by some petrol companies now as part of their regular fuel.
For several years now ethanol has been used in addition to regular fuel. It makes a large difference when compared to using petrol without ethanol. However, ethanol is not as widely used as it needs to be in order to make a greater difference.
With the use of biomass, any plant fibre can be converted into ethanol. This makes it a completely natural alternative whereas petrol is not. Natural energy resources are ultimately better for both the earth and humanity.
Ethanol and bioalcohol burn much cleaner than regular fuel. This greatly reduces the numbers in terms of harmful emissions that are released into the environment. Fewer emissions are just one of the main things that modern science and technology is striving for. It is an important part of making a real difference in the long run.
Bioalcohol and ethanol are renewable resources. Due to the sun’s conversion of plants into energy, there is nothing chemical about it at all. The best fuel alternatives are easily the ones that come without a price. Of course, one setback is that there simply are not enough filling stations with bioalcohol or pure ethanol fuel options. Considering how many vehicles are on the road worldwide, that is something that really needs to be changed.
There are many things that create ethanol or bioalcohol. It does not only come from corn. Potatoes, barley and sugar cane are all fantastic and natural products that create ethanol, with a little help from the sun. There is no reason not to be investigating this option further.
For those that truly want to use ethanol fuel, many mainstream gas stations are offering ethanol blended fuel. Of course, petrol is still involved in this type of fuel. However, ethanol blended gas is still better than strictly petrol only. It certainly is a positive step in the right direction. Making the switch to a petroleum alternative is a personal choice as well as a global one. It’s understandably complicated but it is something we all have to learn to work together at.
February 3, 2010
Ethanol Biomass – What You Need To Understand At This Time
Ethanol fuel biomass may be defined as vegetable substances or plants currently in use to generate gasoline or sustaining energy. More particularly this is a biological origin that is extracted from the living matter. Ethanol has derived its alternative energy coming from plants like corn, switchgrasses, hemp, willow and sugar cane along with additional vegetation which provides or hold sugar. A large number of plant life either is made up of sugar or simply has a number of component inside it that can be converted to sugar. This valuable sugar is required for ethanol production which is done through fermentation, distillation coupled with dehydration. Non-renewable fuels do not fall into this category. They aren’t polar solvents as is ethanol, as a substitute they are hydrocarbons.
Extracting cellulose from specific plants like corn is a challenging practice. Cellulose consists of a component of strands which contain sugars and also all these sugars must be extracted so that they can make the carbs needed to create ethanol. The method employed is a mix of heat with pressure and particular basic acidic ailments. A chemical substance must be used in order to break up one of several chains of glucose and connects on the freely end of the chain and performs its way through the chain breaking down units of sugar (glucose). The closing step is to break up the sequence straight into two molecules and ferment this straight into ethanol. That is a costly strategy to get to ethanol. Researchers have offered a way of biologically engineering a bacteria that would certainly break down the actual components needed to make ethanol biomass.
Ethanol biomass is a controversial issue specially in the process of biologically designed microorganisms as well as the concern of it escaping to the atmosphere. On the other hand, there was significant hot debate around the usage of ethanol in the us. Controversy isn’t always a deterrent to continue no matter whether it’s industrially or even scientifically. We all view controversy as nothing more than thoughts and we all might need thoughts to better our own opinions, transform our system of doing anything and most of all as a means to advance forward, to improve. After all bio ethanol fuel is essential for the future of our planet.
Filed under Ethanol by alternativeenergyauthor
December 29, 2009
The World of Ethanol – News Roundup
Well whether you love it or hate it ethanol has made plenty of waves this past year. It is certainly not the ultimate solution to our energy woes but it does have its place in the mix.
Here is a round up of recent news and info from the world of ethanol production. As always your comments are welcomed on this topic.
Ethanol Strikes Back: Industry Groups Sue California Over Low …
The ethanol industry — specifically proponents of the corn-based fuel — feel like they’ve been picked on long enough. So, now they&#
Advanced BioFuels USA » Cellulosic-Ethanol Mandate Faces Snags
by Naureen S. Malik (Wall Street Journal) Cellulosic-ethanol production, a cornerstone of the U.S. government’s plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, is earmarked to overtake corn ethanol over the next decade. …
Ledesma expanding ethanol production, aims for Argentine market …
In Argentina, Ledesma announced a $37 million investment to expand its facilities to produce ethanol for the Argentine market. The company said that the investment would be applied to increase sugar cane production, …
Advanced BioFuels USA » Ethanol from Cellulose Faster
by J.W. Walkinshaw and S.E. Poniatowski (University of Massachusetts and Terrasonics) This presentation illustrates the usual process of breaking cellulose into sugars for ethanol fermentation by using an enzymatic process and, …
Quite a year for ethanol | Brownfield
2009 was sort of ‘The Tale of Two Cities.” That is how Bob Welch describes what happened to the ethanol industry this year. Welch has a government.
How Ethanol Is Made Animated Feature
Myth: Corn Ethanol is Great
Pitfalls of Ethanol Fuel
Feel free to comment on ethanol and ethanol production below.
May 5, 2009
Hybrid Car Prius
HowStuffWorks asked:
How Hybrid Cars Work Credits: , HowStuffWorks
[nms:hybrid car,4]
November 23, 2008
Honda Insight hybrid car
mrjeroen21 asked:
A video of my grey Honda Insight (and some other)
Also a picture/ video of my latest fuel consumption. My car was also tuned on national tv! (short impression). Also in november 2008 its gonna be published in a car magazine.
[nms:Honda Insight]
November 5, 2008
How Biodiesel Processors Can Can Save your Money
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:
A biodiesel processor is a combination of a reaction vessel and a still for producing biodiesel from vegetable oil.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel can be distinguished from the straight vegetable oils (SVO) or the waste vegetable oils (WVO) which are used as fuels in some diesel vehicles. Biodiesel refers to a diesel which is equivalent to the processed fuel resulting from the biological sources such as vegetable oils which can be used in unmodified diesel engine vehicles.
Biodiesel can be prepared at home. To make biodiesel you will require the following ingredients namely any triglyceride fat or oil i.e. vegetable which is used in cooking, a relatively pure alcohol i.e. either ethanol or methanol and you will also require a strong base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). A long carbon chain which is longer than that of isopropyl alcohol do not work so well. Used oil is often acquired from restaurants for processing.
There are various methods of preparing biodiesel. It is commonly prepared in the garages in small batch processors while some have adapted processors that fit in the backs of vans which makes it transportable. Home brewers face difficulty that they produce a mid-scale biodiesel which is too simple to be cheap, easy to make, safe and appropriate that the producers have sufficient quality for their requirements. There are many advices available on biodiesel forums which are dedicated to the producers and to the users of biodiesel.
How biodiesel processors can can save your money
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is prepared from renewable resources. It burns quickly and is safe to be used in any diesel engine vehicle. Biodiesels have many advantages and it is considered to be the fuel of the future. One of the biggest advantages of biodiesel is that it can be prepared at your own home. More on How Biodiesel Processors Can Can Save your Money
Filed under Ethanol, Nuclear Power by newenergy
September 18, 2008
Bio Fuel Bugs – The Good Kind
At this years’ Going Green we talked to Bill Roe, the CEO of Coskata about his company’s work in developing bio fuel alternatives. They are making ethanol from a variety of feed stocks including switchgrass, wood chips, agricultural residues (bagasse, corn stover, etc.) as well as waste streams such as old tires and municipal solid waste.
Coskata is commercializing a proprietary process and related technologies for the conversion of a wide variety of input materials into ethanol. Coskata has an efficient, affordable, and flexible three-step conversion process:
1. Incoming material converted to synthesis gas (gasification)
2. Fermentation of synthesis gas into ethanol (bio-fermentation)
3. Separation and recovery of ethanol (separations)
After the carbon-hydrogen bonds in the feedstock are “cracked” using gasification and converted into syngas, bacterial fermentation (biofermentation) of the syngas into ethanol occurs using proprietary Coskata microorganisms.
Coskata microorganisms are extremely efficient, utilizing the entire energy value of available input material to produce ethanol. This is a significant advantage over other approaches that only use a fraction of this energy due to their inability to utilize all portions of biomass input material and/or result in non-ethanol byproducts hurting efficiencies.
Bill tells us about their system in the video below.
Bill Roe, CEO Coskata – Going Green 2008
September 17, 2008
Bio Fuels – Going Green 2008
Bio Fuels, using stock such as corn and sugar as the feed for the production of ethanol fuel, have been a big debate over the last year as the public has seen the effects of large scale ethanol production on supplies and pricing in commodity markets. However many of us may not know that behind the scenes there is real research going on to solve this problem and provide the world with renewable feed stock for bio fuel.
Mendel has discovered the functions of genetic switches that control many important aspects of plant growth, metabolism and stress responses. By modifying when and where these key genes are expressed within crops plants, it is possible to obtain significant improvements in plant productivity. Additionally, in many cases, knowledge of gene function enables the identification of natural or synthetic chemicals that can alter plant performance in useful ways.
At this years Going Green Conference in SF we spoke to Neal Gutterman of Mendel Biotechnology of Hayward, CA about his company’s efforts to develop feed stock for bio fuel production. Check out the conversation in the video below.
Neal Gutterman – Mendel Biotechnology – Going Green 2008
May 15, 2008
Cellulosic Ethanol Development-Non Food Feedstocks
DuPont and Genencor of Palo Alto, CA have announced they are working together to create the World’s-Leading Cellulosic Ethanol Company. Why is this important? Well as you may have read lately there is a large debate over making ethanol from existing food stocks and causing shortages and price in creases for those items such as corn and sugar.
If these companies can create viable ethanol product using no food stock sources then it will mean a boom to our economy of energy production and not a bust.
Here is the announcement of the joint venture:
DuPont and Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, today announced an agreement to form DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC, a 50/50 global joint venture to develop and commercialize the leading, low-cost technology solution for the production of cellulosic ethanol — a next generation biofuel produced from non-food sources – to address a $75 billion global market opportunity.
The partners plan an initial three-year investment of US$140 million, which will initially target corn stover and sugar cane bagasse. Future targets include multiple ligno-cellulosic feedstocks including wheat straw, a variety of energy crops and other biomass sources.
“With food and gas prices surging at double-digit rates, there is an imperative for sustainable biofuels technologies. This joint venture addresses this issue head on,†said DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr. “By integrating our companies’ strengths and expertise in this new venture, we are significantly increasing the potential to make cellulosic ethanol from multiple non-food sources an economic reality around the world.â€
“By combining the world-class capabilities of DuPont and Danisco, our joint venture will offer the technology standard for cellulosic ethanol production,†said Danisco CEO Tom Knutzen. “This joint venture will be a powerhouse of discovery, development and engineering. It represents a major step forward in Danisco’s new strategic intent to be a leading force in the field of industrial biotechnology.â€
Through the scientists and technologies of both companies, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC will launch an accelerated effort to integrate the unique cellulosic processing capabilities of both companies to economically produce ethanol from non-food sources. The parent companies will license their combined existing intellectual property and patents related to cellulosic ethanol. The goal is to maximize efficiency and lower the overall system cost to produce a gallon of ethanol from cellulosic materials by optimizing the process steps into a single integrated technology solution.
In the United States, the joint venture will scale up an optimized technology package for corn cobs from integrating the proprietary DuPont pretreatment and ethanologen technologies with the innovative enzyme technology of Genencor, while DuPont continues to analyze the collection and storage of cellulosic feedstocks. The global joint venture expects its first pilot plant to be operational in the United States in 2009, and its first commercial-scale demonstration facility to be operational within the next three years. The joint venture will be headquartered in the United States and will be formed after receipt of required regulatory approvals.
The joint venture will license its technology package directly to ethanol producers for deployment in the United States and around the world, as well as through the establishment of regional cellulosic ethanol affiliates. The regional ethanol affiliates will invest in equity interests with strategic partners, including ethanol producers and energy companies, to enable the rapid deployment of the joint venture’s cellulosic ethanol technology at commercial scale. The joint venture’s technology package can be used both as a “bolt-on†to an existing ethanol plant — expanding its capacity to accept cellulosic feedstocks — or as the design basis for a stand-alone cellulosic ethanol facility. The joint venture expects to enable production of commercial volumes of cellulosic ethanol by 2012.
A video primer on Cellulosic Ethanol:
