Rajan Wilcox
With the volatility of the oil market, many are looking for alternative fuels to power their cars. One such alternative is ethanol, a byproduct of corn. Ethanol is made by fermenting and distilling simple sugars from corn. It can be blended with gasoline to produce gasohol, or used on its own in modified vehicles. While corn ethanol production may have a negative environmental impact, it is argued that maintaining current production levels produces about 20% less emissions than switching back to oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is it possible? | Yes, corn can be used to make car fuel. |
| Fuel type | Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is made by fermenting and distilling simple sugars from corn. |
| Ethanol vs Gasoline | Gasoline is more efficient than ethanol. One gallon of gasoline is equal to 1.5 gallons of ethanol. |
| Environmental impact | The environmental impact of corn ethanol is a complex issue. While it may contribute to deforestation and climate change, maintaining current production levels is likely preferable to switching back to oil. |
| Cost | The cost of producing fuel-grade ethanol is about $1.74 per gallon. |
| Process | The process of making corn fuel involves grinding corn, adding water, enzymes, and yeast, fermenting, and distilling. |
| Safety | The process is complicated and requires safety precautions. |
| Automobile compatibility | Automobiles must be able to run on E-85 ethanol to use corn-based fuel. |
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What You'll Learn
Ethanol yield varies depending on corn and fermentation
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is made by fermenting and distilling the simple sugars from corn. The yield of ethanol from corn varies depending on the type of corn and the method of fermentation.
In the dry milling process, the entire corn kernel is ground into flour, or "mash," which is then slurried by adding water. Enzymes are added to the mash to hydrolyze the starch into simple sugars. Ammonia is added to control the pH and as a nutrient for the yeast, which is added later. The mixture is processed at high temperatures to reduce bacteria levels. The mash is transferred and cooled in fermenters. Yeast is added, which ferments the sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The entire process takes 40 to 50 hours, during which the mash is kept cool and agitated to promote yeast activity. The ethanol is then removed from the silage using distillation columns and is dehydrated to about 200 proof using a molecular sieve system.
The wet milling process involves soaking or steeping the corn in water, grinding it, and separating the high-protein germ, oil, and fiber from the starchy endosperm that is fermented to produce ethanol. The fiber fraction is mixed with fermentation solubles before drying it and forming animal feeds. The corn starch and remaining water can be fermented into ethanol through a similar process as dry milling.
According to research from Cornell University, one acre of land can yield about 7,110 pounds (3,225 kg) of corn, which can be processed into 328 gallons (1,240 liters) of ethanol. This equates to approximately 26.1 pounds (11.84 kg) of corn per gallon of ethanol.
The yield of ethanol from corn can also be improved by increasing the efficiency of corn and ethanol production. For example, researchers at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) are working on ways to economically convert fiber to ethanol, such as using a pretreatment called ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) to unlock the potential of corn fiber for fermentation.
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Cost of corn-based ethanol
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is made by fermenting and distilling simple sugars from corn. According to research from Cornell, you need about 140 gallons (530 liters) of fossil fuel to plant, grow, and harvest an acre of corn. This works out to about $1.05 per gallon, even before the corn is converted to ethanol. The cost of producing ethanol from corn increases at the processing plants, where the grain is crushed and fermented. The corn must be processed with various enzymes, and yeast is added to the mixture to make alcohol. The alcohol is then distilled to produce fuel-grade ethanol that is 85% to 95% pure. To make the ethanol usable as fuel, it must be denatured with a small amount of gasoline. The final cost of the fuel-grade ethanol is about $1.74 per gallon.
The overall profitability of corn ethanol production is largely determined by the relationship between ethanol prices and corn prices, with corn being the primary feedstock cost in producing ethanol. The production process for corn ethanol has become more efficient over time, currently yielding about 2.8 gallons of ethanol for every bushel of corn. However, in 2019, rising corn prices and high ethanol inventory levels caused ethanol margins and profitability to fall to multiyear lows.
The cost of corn-based ethanol also includes direct subsidies like the blenders' credit, renewable fuels standards, and the import tax on Brazilian ethanol. There are also indirect subsidies in the form of higher food prices and any positive carbon footprint that might exist. The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) interpreted a University of Missouri study to mean that the "current corn ethanol tax credit is effectively costing taxpayers $4.18 per gallon and driving up grain prices."
While corn ethanol may have a higher cost compared to traditional fossil fuels, it is important to consider the environmental impact. Maintaining the current level of corn ethanol production is likely preferable to switching back to oil, as it produces about 20% less emissions. However, massively expanding biofuel production to replace fossil fuels would lead to deforestation and climate disaster.
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Environmental impact of corn ethanol
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is made by fermenting and distilling simple sugars from corn. It is sometimes blended with gasoline to produce gasohol. Ethanol-blended fuels account for 12% of all automotive fuels sold in the United States.
The environmental impact of corn ethanol is a highly debated topic. Some argue that corn ethanol is worse for the environment than gasoline due to the emissions resulting from land use changes to grow corn, along with processing and combustion. A study by Dr. Tyler Lark, an assistant scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, found that ethanol is likely at least 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline. The study also contradicted previous research commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which showed ethanol and other biofuels to be relatively green.
However, others argue that corn ethanol can be beneficial for the environment. Some claim that increasing the amount of corn ethanol in U.S. gasoline would reduce air pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions thanks to improvements in farming techniques. Additionally, if farmers can convert cornfields to tall-grass prairies, cut the grass, and turn it into fuel, corn ethanol could be a legitimate alternative to gasoline.
The impact of corn ethanol on the environment is complex and depends on various factors, including land use, farming techniques, and fuel processing. While corn ethanol may have some benefits, it is important to consider its potential drawbacks, such as increased demand for corn, which can lead to higher prices for this staple food crop and intensified threats to natural habitats in corn-growing regions.
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How to make biofuel from corn
Corn ethanol is a biofuel that can be used to power vehicles. It is a high-octane, clean-burning renewable fuel that is added to gasoline to improve air quality, engine performance, and environmental impact. Corn ethanol is produced through corn fermentation and distillation.
- Dry milling: This process involves grinding corn into flour. The corn flour is then fermented to produce ethanol, with co-products such as distillers' grains and carbon dioxide. Dry milling is a commonly used method, with nearly 90% of ethanol plants being dry mills due to lower capital costs.
- Wet milling: In this process, the corn grain is steeped in dilute sulfurous acid for 24 to 48 hours. This separates the corn grain into its components, including starch, protein, and fiber. The slurry mix is then passed through grinders to separate the corn germ, and the remaining components are segregated using screens, hydroclonic, and centrifugal separators. The corn starch and water can be fermented into ethanol, similar to the dry milling process.
- Fermentation: The fermentation process involves converting the sugars in the corn starch into ethanol. This can be done through biochemical or thermochemical pathways. In the biochemical process, the corn starch is pre-treated to release sugars, which are then fermented into ethanol. The thermochemical process involves adding heat and chemicals to produce syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
- Distillation: The fermented mixture is then distilled to separate and purify the ethanol.
- Blending: The ethanol produced can then be blended with gasoline in different ratios, such as E10 (10% ethanol) or E15 (15% ethanol), to create the final biofuel product.
It is important to note that while corn ethanol has been promoted as a renewable and eco-friendly alternative to gasoline, there are ongoing debates about its environmental impact, particularly regarding land use, water use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Ethanol-blended fuels
Ethanol has a higher "gasoline gallon equivalency" (GGE) value than gasoline, meaning more ethanol is required to produce the same amount of energy as gasoline. For instance, it takes 1.5 times the volume of ethanol to match the energy of one volume of gasoline. Despite this, ethanol-blended fuels can offer environmental benefits by reducing exhaust VOC emissions. Studies have shown that E10 blends can reduce VOC emissions by up to 75% and lower aromatic emissions by 40-60%.
While ethanol-blended fuels have advantages, there are also considerations to be made. Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water vapour from the atmosphere. This absorption can lead to phase separation in ethanol-gasoline blends, causing potential engine issues. Additionally, the production of ethanol from corn has been associated with concerns over land use, food production, and environmental impacts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to make car fuel with corn. Corn can be converted into ethanol, which can be used as fuel for cars.
The process of making car fuel from corn involves grinding the corn into granules, adding water, and heating it to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. The ground corn is then slowly added to the water and mixed with an alpha-amylase enzyme. The solution is agitated for 15 minutes, after which the temperature is raised to a boil for 30 minutes. The final product is a biofuel that can be used in cars that run on E-85 ethanol.
Using corn as car fuel can reduce dependence on volatile oil markets and provide an alternative to gasoline. It is also argued that maintaining current corn ethanol production levels produces about 20% less emissions than switching back to oil.
One major drawback of using corn as car fuel is the potential environmental impact. The expansion of corn production for ethanol can lead to deforestation, climate change, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the process of converting corn to ethanol requires energy and may have a higher carbon intensity than initially thought.
