Ethanol As Fuel Jon Konen February 18, 2008

Overview General Information General Information How It Is Made How It Is Made Benefits Benefits Environmental Impact Environmental Impact Possible Negative Effects Possible Negative Effects Other Alternatives Other Alternatives Questions Questions

General Information Ethanol made from fermentation of sugar Ethanol made from fermentation of sugar C 6 H 12 O 6 -> 3C 2 H 5 OH + 3H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 -> 3C 2 H 5 OH + 3H 2 O Corn and soybeans are 2 common sources Corn and soybeans are 2 common sources Consumption Reaction: Consumption Reaction: C 2 H 5 OH + 3O 2 -> 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O C 2 H 5 OH + 3O 2 -> 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O

Current Production Largely from corn and soy bean feedstock Largely from corn and soy bean feedstock Uses only the starch in corn kernel ~50% of dry mass Uses only the starch in corn kernel ~50% of dry mass Uses distillation and dehydration to remove water and get pure ethanol Uses distillation and dehydration to remove water and get pure ethanol Needs to have <1% water to be used as fuel Needs to have <1% water to be used as fuel

Distillation and Dehydration After fermentation, ethanol distilled to ~ 95% pure ethanol After fermentation, ethanol distilled to ~ 95% pure ethanol Dehydration process must remove excess water (absorption process or azeotropic boiling) Dehydration process must remove excess water (absorption process or azeotropic boiling) Dehydration not necessary if not mixing ethanol with gasoline to use as fuel Dehydration not necessary if not mixing ethanol with gasoline to use as fuel

Transportation Currently transported by train and truck Currently transported by train and truck Can’t be transported in pipelines long distances because it mixes with water Can’t be transported in pipelines long distances because it mixes with water Corrodes iron parts Corrodes iron parts Extra wear on electrical pumps Extra wear on electrical pumps

Benefits Decreased reliance on fossil fuels Decreased reliance on fossil fuels High government subsidy (51 cents/gallon) High government subsidy (51 cents/gallon) Lower greenhouse gas emissions versus gasoline Lower greenhouse gas emissions versus gasoline Room for improvements in processing Room for improvements in processing Job creation Job creation

Environmental Impact Lowers greenhouse gas emissions when burned in vehicle Lowers greenhouse gas emissions when burned in vehicle Using left over corn kernels for corn mash releases VOC’s Using left over corn kernels for corn mash releases VOC’s Increased use of farm land for corn – greater soil erosion into rivers Increased use of farm land for corn – greater soil erosion into rivers Clearing of rainforest for farm land in some countries (Brazil) Clearing of rainforest for farm land in some countries (Brazil)

Possible Negative Effects E100 versus gasoline consumes 34% more fuel to travel same distance (Lower mpg than gas) E100 versus gasoline consumes 34% more fuel to travel same distance (Lower mpg than gas) Cold starting (T < 52 F) need gasoline Cold starting (T < 52 F) need gasoline Lower energy return Lower energy return Increased cost of corn for feedstock and human consumption Increased cost of corn for feedstock and human consumption

Energy Balances for Fuel Energy balance Energy balance Country Type Energy balance Country Type Energy balance US Corn ethanol 1.3 US Corn ethanol 1.3 Brazil Cane ethanol 8 Brazil Cane ethanol 8 Germany Biodiesel 2.5 Germany Biodiesel 2.5 None Cellulosic ethanol †2–36 None Cellulosic ethanol †2–36 AllGasoline5 AllGasoline5 † depending on production method † depending on production method

Alternatives to Corn Sugar cane – used widely in Brazil, bigger energy “payback” Sugar cane – used widely in Brazil, bigger energy “payback” Palm oil – worse for environment Palm oil – worse for environment Butanol – BP pilot project Butanol – BP pilot project Cellulose ethanol created from stalks of corn, not kernels Cellulose ethanol created from stalks of corn, not kernels DMF – Professor Dumesic DMF – Professor Dumesic

Challenges to Alternatives Destruction of rainforest in Brazil (sugar cane production) and Indonesia/Malaysia (palm oil) Destruction of rainforest in Brazil (sugar cane production) and Indonesia/Malaysia (palm oil) No efficient processes for cellulose ethanol right now No efficient processes for cellulose ethanol right now Need organisms that can tolerate butanol Need organisms that can tolerate butanol

Conflicting Information If pure ethanol can use high compression ratios to get fuel mileage close to gasoline If pure ethanol can use high compression ratios to get fuel mileage close to gasoline E85 with significantly less MPG (less cost effective) E85 with significantly less MPG (less cost effective) Actual energy balance of corn ethanol Actual energy balance of corn ethanol CO 2 Production CO 2 Production

Existing Fossil Fuels Most sources are being depleted but several large reservoirs still exist Most sources are being depleted but several large reservoirs still exist 10.4 billion barrels of oil in Alaska 10.4 billion barrels of oil in Alaska Low sulfur coal reserve in Utah Low sulfur coal reserve in Utah Natural gas in continental ridge Natural gas in continental ridge

Questions Why rush to corn ethanol? Why rush to corn ethanol? How long to develop cellulosic ethanol? How long to develop cellulosic 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 your car? Is low dose ethanol (<10%) bad for your car?

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