An Inquiry Into the Nature and the Cause of Alternative Energy Sources Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love switch grass as an alternative fuel source

Until I realized that someone else was doing switch grass…in which case…

ENTER: Miscanthus

A Miscanthus Based System Tall perennial grass – ft. Tall perennial grass – ft. Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid breakdown Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid breakdown Ethanol used in gasoline blends in automobiles Ethanol used in gasoline blends in automobiles H 2 SO 4 aq. C 6 H 12 O 6 glucose yeast C 2 H 5 OH (aq.)

A Miscanthus Based System Use Midwest’s agricultural transport infrastructure Use Midwest’s agricultural transport infrastructure 1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol 1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year crop- rotation cycle Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year crop- rotation cycle

Mashe r Pum p 1. Cellulose rich material and water are combined to create a slurry. Process depending, temperatures can be raised up to 200°C 2. A strong acid is added to the mixture, breaking up the cellulose molecules by hydrolysis 3. A series of reactors and separators break down the cellulose and separate out nonsalable materials 4. Waste products can be recovered or used as a heat source for other parts of the process 5. Fermentation converts the aqueous glucose molecules to ethanol 6. A flash unit and/or a distillation column can be used to separate the ethanol from the water CELLULOSE WATER ACID ETHANOL The Processing of Cellulose into Ethanol

How much can you get? Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year. Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year. Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle which means longer growing seasons and a larger range of places to grow it. Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle which means longer growing seasons and a larger range of places to grow it. Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose per unit mass, which means more ethanol production after fermentation. Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose per unit mass, which means more ethanol production after fermentation.

Is it worth it? Potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70-90% per car mile traveled Potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70-90% per car mile traveled Energy output-input ratio ~1.6 Energy output-input ratio ~1.6 Large capital startup costs – not known full cost of commercial production Large capital startup costs – not known full cost of commercial production Good for the environment! Good for the environment!

Comparison to Current Technology 140 Billion gal of gasoline used per year in U.S. To reduce that by 10% using E85, would require 21 Billion gallons of ethanol from cellulose Need 42 million acres or 66,000 sq. mi of Miscanthus plants ~ the size of Oklahoma!

Miscanthus = Miss Kansas? Miss Kansas Miscanthus Production 1. Energy from the sun is stored by plants in the form of Glucose which is in turn stored as starch or cellulose - miscanthus is cellulose rich 2. Miscanthus can be harvested, baled, and processed, removing moisture to allow further utilization 3. Chopped up miscanthus can be burned outright or treated to create cellulosic ethanol

References Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory tml National Renewable Energy Laboratory tml tml tml Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience with a Novel Energy Crop Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience with a Novel Energy Crop Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. Arkenol, Inc. Arkenol, Inc. Miscanthus Research Project at the University of Illinois Miscanthus Research Project at the University of Illinois