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

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?

Other Uses?

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

How is it Made?

Actual Steps  Milling –Wet or Dry  Chemical Breakdown (Enzymes) –Heated to 225 o F –Starch Breakdown  Fermentation –Only 10% conversion to ethanol

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

Advances  Bt Corn! –Insect Repellant –Starch-Water Ratio  Cheap Enzymes –Less Heat Needed  Farm Operation –Milling Techniques

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

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

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

References  “Map & Graph: Energy: Oil Consumption - Thousand barrels daily.” Nationmaster.com. Nov  Buchheit, Joshua K. “History of Ethanol Production.” Rural Enterprise and  Alternative Agricultural Development Initiative. Nov n.pdf. n.pdf n.pdf  “Ethanol Production Information.” Iowa Corn Growers Assocation. Nov  “1923: Death By Moonshine.”