Ethanol As Fuel

Jon Konen

February 18, 2008

OverviewOverview

General InformationGeneral Information How It Is MadeHow It Is Made BenefitsBenefits Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact Possible Negative EffectsPossible Negative Effects Other AlternativesOther Alternatives QuestionsQuestions

General InformationGeneral Information

Ethanol made from fermentation of Ethanol made from fermentation of sugarsugar

CC66HH1212OO66 -> 3C -> 3C22HH55OH + 3HOH + 3H22OO Corn and soybeans are 2 common Corn and soybeans are 2 common

sourcessources Consumption Reaction:Consumption Reaction: CC22HH55OH + 3OOH + 3O22 -> 2CO -> 2CO22 + 3H + 3H22OO

Current ProductionCurrent Production

Largely from corn and soy bean Largely from corn and soy bean feedstockfeedstock

Uses only the starch in corn kernel Uses only the starch in corn kernel ~50% of dry mass~50% of dry mass

Uses distillation and dehydration to Uses distillation and dehydration to remove water and get pure ethanolremove water and get pure ethanol

Needs to have <1% water to be used Needs to have <1% water to be used as fuelas fuel

Distillation and DehydrationDistillation and Dehydration

After fermentation, ethanol distilled After fermentation, ethanol distilled to ~ 95% pure ethanolto ~ 95% pure ethanol

Dehydration process must remove Dehydration process must remove excess water (absorption process or excess water (absorption process or azeotropic boiling)azeotropic boiling)

Dehydration not necessary if not Dehydration not necessary if not mixing ethanol with gasoline to use mixing ethanol with gasoline to use as fuelas fuel

TransportationTransportation

Currently transported by train and Currently transported by train and trucktruck

Can’t be transported in pipelines long Can’t be transported in pipelines long distances because it mixes with distances because it mixes with waterwater

Corrodes iron partsCorrodes iron parts Extra wear on electrical pumpsExtra wear on electrical pumps

BenefitsBenefits

Decreased reliance on fossil fuelsDecreased reliance on fossil fuels High government subsidy (51 High government subsidy (51

cents/gallon)cents/gallon) Lower greenhouse gas emissions Lower greenhouse gas emissions

versus gasolineversus gasoline Room for improvements in Room for improvements in

processingprocessing Job creationJob creation

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

Lowers greenhouse gas emissions Lowers greenhouse gas emissions when burned in vehiclewhen burned in vehicle

Using left over corn kernels for corn Using left over corn kernels for corn mash releases VOC’smash releases VOC’s

Increased use of farm land for corn – Increased use of farm land for corn – greater soil erosion into riversgreater soil erosion into rivers

Clearing of rainforest for farm land in Clearing of rainforest for farm land in some countries (Brazil)some countries (Brazil)

Possible Negative EffectsPossible Negative Effects

E100 versus gasoline consumes 34% E100 versus gasoline consumes 34% more fuel to travel same distance more fuel to travel same distance (Lower mpg than gas)(Lower mpg than gas)

Cold starting (T < 52 F) need Cold starting (T < 52 F) need gasolinegasoline

Lower energy returnLower energy return Increased cost of corn for feedstock Increased cost of corn for feedstock

and human consumptionand human consumption

Energy Balances for FuelEnergy Balances for Fuel

Energy balance Energy balance Country Country Type Type Energy balance Energy balance US US Corn ethanol Corn ethanol 1.3 1.3 Brazil Brazil Cane ethanol Cane ethanol 8 8 Germany Biodiesel Germany Biodiesel 2.5 2.5 NoneNone Cellulosic ethanol Cellulosic ethanol †2–36 †2–36 AllAll GasolineGasoline 55 † † depending on production methoddepending on production method

Alternatives to CornAlternatives to Corn

Sugar cane – used widely in Brazil, Sugar cane – used widely in Brazil, bigger energy “payback”bigger energy “payback”

Palm oil – worse for environmentPalm oil – worse for environment Butanol – BP pilot projectButanol – BP pilot project Cellulose ethanol created from stalks Cellulose ethanol created from stalks

of corn, not kernelsof corn, not kernels DMF – Professor DumesicDMF – Professor Dumesic

Challenges to AlternativesChallenges to Alternatives

Destruction of rainforest in Brazil Destruction of rainforest in Brazil (sugar cane production) and (sugar cane production) and Indonesia/Malaysia (palm oil)Indonesia/Malaysia (palm oil)

No efficient processes for cellulose No efficient processes for cellulose ethanol right nowethanol right now

Need organisms that can tolerate Need organisms that can tolerate butanolbutanol

Conflicting InformationConflicting Information

If pure ethanol can use high If pure ethanol can use high compression ratios to get fuel compression ratios to get fuel mileage close to gasolinemileage close to gasoline

E85 with significantly less MPG (less E85 with significantly less MPG (less cost effective)cost effective)

Actual energy balance of corn Actual energy balance of corn ethanolethanol

COCO22 Production Production

Existing Fossil FuelsExisting Fossil Fuels

Most sources are being depleted but Most sources are being depleted but several large reservoirs still existseveral large reservoirs still exist

10.4 billion barrels of oil in Alaska10.4 billion barrels of oil in Alaska Low sulfur coal reserve in UtahLow sulfur coal reserve in Utah Natural gas in continental ridgeNatural gas in continental ridge

QuestionsQuestions

Why rush to corn ethanol?Why rush to corn ethanol? How long to develop cellulosic How long to develop cellulosic

ethanol?ethanol? Other possible fuel types?Other possible fuel types? Most studies conflict, which is right?Most studies conflict, which is right? Is low dose ethanol (<10%) bad for Is low dose ethanol (<10%) bad for

your car?your car?

ReferencesReferences http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/798http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/798 http://news.carjunky.com/ethanol-fuel-abc261.shtmlhttp://news.carjunky.com/ethanol-fuel-abc261.shtml http://www.ethanol.org/index.php?id=34&parentid=8http://www.ethanol.org/index.php?id=34&parentid=8 http://www.amlibpub.com/liberty_blog/2007/07/ethanol-http://www.amlibpub.com/liberty_blog/2007/07/ethanol-

poor-test-results-other.htmlpoor-test-results-other.html http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=3202http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=3202 http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/

Ethanol_fuel_presents_a_cornundrum.htmlEthanol_fuel_presents_a_cornundrum.html http://www.ntu.org/main/press.php?http://www.ntu.org/main/press.php?

PressID=854&org_name=NTUPressID=854&org_name=NTU Will, George F. Newsweek 2/11/2008, Vol. 151 Issue 6, p64-Will, George F. Newsweek 2/11/2008, Vol. 151 Issue 6, p64-

6464 Popular Science Feb2008, Vol. 272 Issue 2, p31-33Popular Science Feb2008, Vol. 272 Issue 2, p31-33 Smithsonian Nov2007, Vol. 38 Issue 8, p109-116Smithsonian Nov2007, Vol. 38 Issue 8, p109-116 Scientific American Jan2008, Vol. 298 Issue 1, p45-45Scientific American Jan2008, Vol. 298 Issue 1, p45-45 New York Times (1/1/1985 to present) 10/11/2007, p24New York Times (1/1/1985 to present) 10/11/2007, p24 Catherine WatkinsCatherine Watkins. International News on Fats, Oils and . International News on Fats, Oils and

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