Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Production from Plant Production from Plant
MaterialMaterial
By By
Saujan SivaramSaujan Sivaram
November 17, 2005November 17, 2005
Why?Why?
World Consumption of OilWorld Consumption of Oil
– 75 Million Barrels Daily (2004)75 Million Barrels Daily (2004) 21 Consumed by US21 Consumed by US
Decrease Rate of Oil ConsumptionDecrease Rate of Oil Consumption
– Allows for further energy researchAllows for further energy research
– Possible quick fixPossible quick fix
How Can Ethanol Be Used? How Can Ethanol Be Used?
Gasoline EnrichmentGasoline Enrichment– Burns Cleaner Burns Cleaner
E-10E-10E-85E-85
– Raises Octane NumberRaises Octane NumberReduces Spontaneous Combustion Reduces Spontaneous Combustion
(Knocking)(Knocking)Replaces Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether Replaces Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether
Source of Hydrogen?Source of Hydrogen?
Other Uses?Other Uses?
Agricultural StatsAgricultural Stats
9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year– 38% of World Production38% of World Production– 20% Used for Ethanol20% Used for Ethanol
3 billion gallons of ethanol a year 3 billion gallons of ethanol a year
How is it Made?How is it Made?
Actual StepsActual Steps
MillingMilling– Wet or DryWet or Dry
Chemical Breakdown (Enzymes)Chemical Breakdown (Enzymes)– Heated to 225Heated to 225ooFF– Starch BreakdownStarch Breakdown
Fermentation Fermentation – Only 10% conversion to ethanolOnly 10% conversion to ethanol
EconomicsEconomics
$4.69 per gallon ethanol$4.69 per gallon ethanol– 45 kWh45 kWh– 1.6 gal ethanol = 1 gal gasoline1.6 gal ethanol = 1 gal gasoline– Projected to cost $1.07Projected to cost $1.07
$2.05 per gallon gasoline $2.05 per gallon gasoline – 35 kWh35 kWh
1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output
AdvancesAdvances
Bt Corn!Bt Corn!– Insect RepellantInsect Repellant– Starch-Water RatioStarch-Water Ratio
Cheap EnzymesCheap Enzymes– Less Heat NeededLess Heat Needed
Farm OperationFarm Operation– Milling TechniquesMilling Techniques
Federal PolicyFederal Policy
Clean Air Act of 1990Clean Air Act of 1990– Lead RemovalLead Removal– Reformulated GasReformulated Gas
Energy Policy Act of 1992Energy Policy Act of 1992– Reduce Dependence on Foreign OilReduce Dependence on Foreign Oil– Mandated Alt. Fuel VehiclesMandated Alt. Fuel Vehicles
Renewable Fuels StandardRenewable Fuels Standard– Use 7.5 bil gal ethanol by 2012Use 7.5 bil gal ethanol by 2012
Minnesota State PolicyMinnesota State Policy
As of 1997 all gas must be E-10As of 1997 all gas must be E-10
Proposed in 2004 that all gas contain Proposed in 2004 that all gas contain E-20 by 2013E-20 by 2013
ConclusionsConclusions
21 Million Barrels Oil Used by US21 Million Barrels Oil Used by US
Ethanol Increases Octane NumberEthanol Increases Octane Number
9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year
1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output
ReferencesReferences ““Map & Graph: Energy: Oil Consumption - Thousand barrels daily.” Map & Graph: Energy: Oil Consumption - Thousand barrels daily.”
Nationmaster.comNationmaster.com. Nov 6 2005. . Nov 6 2005. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con_tho_bar_dai. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con_tho_bar_dai.
Buchheit, Joshua K. “History of Ethanol Production.” Buchheit, Joshua K. “History of Ethanol Production.” Rural Enterprise and Rural Enterprise and
Alternative Agricultural Development InitiativeAlternative Agricultural Development Initiative. Nov 7 2005. . Nov 7 2005. http://www.siu.edu/~readi/grains/factsheets/historyofethanolproduction.http://www.siu.edu/~readi/grains/factsheets/historyofethanolproduction.pdfpdf..
““Ethanol Production Information.” Ethanol Production Information.” Iowa Corn Growers AssocationIowa Corn Growers Assocation. Nov 7 . Nov 7 2005. 2005. http://www.iowacorn.org/ethanol/ethanol_6.htmlhttp://www.iowacorn.org/ethanol/ethanol_6.html..
““1923: Death By Moonshine.” 1923: Death By Moonshine.” http://homicide.northwestern.edu/documents/prohibition.jpghttp://homicide.northwestern.edu/documents/prohibition.jpg
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