Posted on 09/23/2010 9:19:37 PM PDT by neverdem
Aberdeen, South Dakota—“I’ve always wanted to know, can you drink what you guys make?,” I asked, sitting in Jim Lane’s office at the Advanced Bioenergy ethanol plant in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After all, ethanol plants ferment corn just like bourbon distilleries do. Lane smiled, pointed to a small jar of water-clear fluid on the table at which we were sitting, and said, “Open it up. Give it a smell.” I did. It felt like several layers of the cells lining my nostrils were being burned off. Lane smiled some more. The obvious answer was no. He explained that toxic stench in fuel ethanol emanates from fusel oil, a mixture of alcohols and fatty acids, which is used industrially to remove lacquer and enamel—that explains the eau de paint thinner—and is retained in fuel ethanol because it provides some extra energy. It also limits any temptation that a plant worker might have to take sip while on the job. In addition, to avoid paying beverage alcohol taxes the plant denatures its ethanol by adding two percent gasoline before shipping it.
Lane, a chemical engineer who is in charge of regulatory affairs at Advanced Bioenergy, generously agreed to give me a tour of the Aberdeen facility so that I could learn more about the process of producing fuel ethanol or bioethanol from corn. Last year, the country produced just over 11 billion gallons of bioethanol. In contrast, only about 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol were produced to drink in the form of wine, beer, and distilled spirits. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [PDF] mandates that the country will use 36 billion gallons of ethanol for fuel by 2022, which is equal to about a quarter of the 138 billion gallons of gasoline consumed domestically last year...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Well, it doesn't work, because the damn **** is clogging my fuels systems! and it rots out lines, as well as draws moisture.
You're absolutely right!
The bacteria in bioethanol can also consume rubber gaskets, cork gaskets, seals, hoses and metal coatings for their mineral contents.
Poorly managed fuel control could lead to contamination of the vehicle’s fuel tank and fuel system; once contaminated it is almost impossible to remove resulting in potential engine and fuel system damage.
Special care should be taken if bacterial growth is found in the fuel to ensure that it does not come in contact with skin.
Bioethanol is four times as volatile as petrol and extreme care should be taken to avoid exposure to naked flames or sparks. There is a danger of fuel tank explosions. Bioethanol mixtures including E85 can potentially ignite inside fuel tanks if a source of ignition is available, such as a spark during refueling.
Once-hidden EU report reveals damage from biodiesel
Snip: Biofuels such as biodiesel from soy beans can create up to four times more climate-warming emissions than standard diesel or petrol, according to an EU document released under freedom of information laws.
Plus our cars get 10% less mpg on fuel that is up to 10% ethanol. So we are burning the same amount of gasoline as we ever were.
We just have to fill up more frequently.
The darned stuff is the dumbest idea ever.
It sucks all the way around.
Stupid idea, pushed bys tupid people for stupid reasons.
Stupid idea, pushed by stupid people for stupid reasons.
The next great idea will be to displace the great wild and the farmlands with solar farms and windmills in order to save the planet..
I hate these fools.
Not for the investors and the suppliers - at least until it gets disproved and goes belly-up.
If a fuel needs subsidy, it is not a fuel.
If a fuel needs subsidy, it is not a fuel.
If a fuel needs subsidy, it is not a fuel.
The exhaust stinks and the mileage drops, too.
The reason for ethanol is the same as for wind energy, etc. . . . . government subsidies. Once the subsidies run out, those who build them will sell out or default. The one thing that will never happen is a stand alone profitable business, unless the government succeeds in driving the price of oil through the roof.
One wouldn’t think so at first blush, but the hydrocarbon known as octane (the predominant hydrocarbon in automobile gasoline) boils at a higher temperature than water does. A mostly-ethanol fuel would be asking for vapor lock in a carbureted engine.
And guess which stupid people pay for it--TWICE: once in taxes and again in (ever more frequent) trips to the gas station.
“And guess which stupid people pay for it—TWICE”
This is one of the many things which need to changed.
There has been study after study done saying this is not really a good alternative.
Ethanol = Political Entrepreneurship; as do all subsidies to businesses and consumers.
Those PEs are killing our Republic. We need to kill these subsidies across the board and get government out of the business of business.
Market entrepreneurship is what we need.
Actually, the fusel oils are removed from ethanol during the distillation process. Since they are combustible, they are returned to the ethanol stream. At the concentrations normally seen, they do not make the ethanol poisonous to drink. That’s why a few percent of gasoline is added. Fusels are part of what gives various types of liquors their unique flavors, and fusels contribute mightily to hangovers.
Correct. The ethanol produced for fuel is a higher proof than Everclear and, if not intentionally adulterated, every bit as drinkable.
Then, force those taxpayers, us, to use the fuel while we pay more for food, more rapidly deplete our soil, chose to grow energy crops instead of food, are forced to cap our own oil wells and we pay even more for energy. What a great idea!
More cuts on the body Republic. I've lost count...how close are we to a thousand?
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