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Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Production from Plant Material

Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Production from Plant Material. By Saujan Sivaram November 17, 2005. Why?. World Consumption of Oil 75 Million Barrels Daily (2004) 21 Consumed by US Decrease Rate of Oil Consumption Allows for further energy research Possible quick fix.

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Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Production from Plant Material

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  1. Alternative Fuel: Ethanol Production from Plant Material By Saujan Sivaram November 17, 2005

  2. Why? • World Consumption of Oil • 75 Million Barrels Daily (2004) • 21 Consumed by US • Decrease Rate of Oil Consumption • Allows for further energy research • Possible quick fix

  3. How Can Ethanol Be Used? • Gasoline Enrichment • Burns Cleaner • E-10 • E-85 • Raises Octane Number • Reduces Spontaneous Combustion (Knocking) • Replaces Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether • Source of Hydrogen?

  4. Other Uses?

  5. Agricultural Stats • 9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year • 38% of World Production • 20% Used for Ethanol • 3 billion gallons of ethanol a year

  6. How is it Made?

  7. Actual Steps • Milling • Wet or Dry • Chemical Breakdown (Enzymes) • Heated to 225oF • Starch Breakdown • Fermentation • Only 10% conversion to ethanol

  8. Economics • $4.69 per gallon ethanol • 45 kWh • 1.6 gal ethanol = 1 gal gasoline • Projected to cost $1.07 • $2.05 per gallon gasoline • 35 kWh • 1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output

  9. Advances • Bt Corn! • Insect Repellant • Starch-Water Ratio • Cheap Enzymes • Less Heat Needed • Farm Operation • Milling Techniques

  10. Federal Policy • Clean Air Act of 1990 • Lead Removal • Reformulated Gas • Energy Policy Act of 1992 • Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil • Mandated Alt. Fuel Vehicles • Renewable Fuels Standard • Use 7.5 bil gal ethanol by 2012

  11. Minnesota State Policy • As of 1997 all gas must be E-10 • Proposed in 2004 that all gas contain E-20 by 2013

  12. Conclusions • 21 Million Barrels Oil Used by US • Ethanol Increases Octane Number • 9 Billion Bushels of Corn last year • 1 Btu fossil fuel = 1.3 Btu output

  13. References • “Map & Graph: Energy: Oil Consumption - Thousand barrels daily.” Nationmaster.com. Nov 6 2005. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con_tho_bar_dai. • Buchheit, Joshua K. “History of Ethanol Production.” Rural Enterprise and • Alternative Agricultural Development Initiative. Nov 7 2005. http://www.siu.edu/~readi/grains/factsheets/historyofethanolproduction.pdf. • “Ethanol Production Information.” Iowa Corn Growers Assocation. Nov 7 2005. http://www.iowacorn.org/ethanol/ethanol_6.html. • “1923: Death By Moonshine.” http://homicide.northwestern.edu/documents/prohibition.jpg

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