Mercedes Mullins
Corn is a popular feedstock for ethanol production due to its abundance and ease of conversion to ethanol. It has been converted into ethanol for thousands of years, but its use as fuel has greatly expanded in the past century. According to research from Cornell, an acre of land can yield about 7,110 pounds of corn, which equates to approximately 26.1 pounds of corn per gallon and can be processed into 328 gallons of ethanol. This process involves grinding, cooking with enzymes, fermentation with yeast, and distillation. The infrastructure and knowledge to plant, harvest, and store corn efficiently also contribute to its popularity as a feedstock. However, it's important to note that the energy cost of growing corn for fuel is significant, with estimates ranging from 31.5 gallons to 50 gallons of diesel energy required to produce an acre of corn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How much corn is needed to make a gallon of ethanol | 26.1 pounds (11.84 kg) |
| How much ethanol is produced per acre of corn | 328 gallons (1240.61 liters) |
| How much energy is needed to grow an acre of corn | 50 gallons of crude oil (1.2 barrels) or 46 gallons of diesel |
| How much energy is produced by an acre of corn | 21,300 barrels of oil energy |
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What You'll Learn
An acre of corn yields 328 gallons of ethanol
The cost of fuel-grade ethanol is about $1.74 per gallon, although there are many variables that can affect this number. The process of converting corn to ethanol also affects the energy economics of the process. According to the Cornell report, "The energy economics get worse at the processing plants, where the grain is crushed and fermented." The corn must be processed with enzymes, and yeast is added to the mixture to ferment it and make alcohol.
The amount of ethanol produced per bushel of corn can vary depending on the efficiency of the starch conversion process. For example, in one scenario, the ethanol yield increased from 2.759 to 2.829 gallons per bushel of corn. The use of corn for ethanol production must also be balanced with its predominant purpose for food and feed, as well as economic, land use, and environmental considerations.
In conclusion, while an acre of corn can yield a substantial amount of ethanol, the efficiency of the conversion process and the competing demands for corn can impact the overall feasibility and sustainability of corn-based ethanol production.
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Ethanol is 85-95% pure post-distillation
Corn is a popular feedstock for ethanol production due to its abundance and ease of conversion to ethanol. The process of converting corn into ethanol involves grinding the corn, cooking it with enzymes to break down starches, fermentation with yeast, and distillation to remove water. For fuel ethanol, additional steps are included, such as using a molecular sieve to remove water and denaturing the ethanol to make it unfit for consumption, thus avoiding taxation as drinkable alcohol.
The amount of corn required to produce a gallon of ethanol is approximately 26.1 pounds or 11.84 kg. This means that for a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to New York, which is approximately 2774 miles, one would need to plant a little more than half an acre of corn to produce sufficient ethanol. According to research from Cornell University, an acre of land can yield about 7110 pounds or 3225 kg of corn, which equates to about 328 gallons or 1240.61 liters of ethanol.
The cost of producing fuel-grade ethanol is approximately $1.74 per gallon, but this can vary depending on various factors. The production of corn for ethanol also comes with high costs and inputs, making it a very intensive crop. The energy cost of growing an acre of corn is significant, with estimates ranging from 46 to 50.4 gallons of diesel energy required. This includes the energy expended in manufacturing, mining, and distributing fertilizer, planting, spraying, harvesting, pesticide production, seed processing, and machinery manufacture.
After distillation, the ethanol is typically 85-95% pure. This ethanol can then be used as a fuel source, providing an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, it is important to note that ethanol is less efficient than gasoline, with one gallon of gasoline being equivalent to 1.5 gallons of ethanol in terms of mileage.
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26.1 pounds of corn are required for a gallon of ethanol
It takes 26.1 pounds of corn, or 11.84 kg, to make a gallon of ethanol. This figure is based on research conducted at Cornell University, which found that an acre of land can yield about 7,110 pounds (3,225 kg) of corn, which can then be processed into 328 gallons (1,240.61 litres) of ethanol. This works out at 26.1 pounds of corn per gallon of ethanol.
Corn is a popular feedstock for ethanol production due to its abundance and ease of conversion to ethanol. The process of converting corn into ethanol involves grinding the corn, cooking it with enzymes to break down starches into individual sugar molecules, fermenting it with yeast, and then distilling it to remove water. For fuel ethanol, additional steps are included to remove any remaining water and to denature the ethanol, making it unfit for human consumption and therefore not subject to taxation as drinkable alcohol.
The use of corn as a feedstock for ethanol fuel has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, corn benefits from a well-established infrastructure and extensive grower knowledge, thanks to over 100 years of research and development. This makes corn a natural crop for expanded uses such as ethanol production. However, corn is also a very intensive crop, with high production costs and inputs. As such, other bioenergy crops may be less intensive and more cost-effective, requiring fewer inputs and lower opportunity costs.
The energy cost of producing corn for ethanol fuel is also significant. According to researchers at the University of Iowa, it takes approximately 46 gallons of diesel energy to grow an acre of no-till corn and store it safely. This includes the energy required for manufacturing, mining, and distributing fertiliser, planting, spraying, and harvesting, manufacturing pesticides and seed, and machinery manufacture. Additionally, the drying costs for a 160-bushel crop can use up to 14.4 gallons, further adding to the energy requirements.
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46 gallons of diesel energy are needed to grow an acre of no-till corn
The energy cost of growing an acre of no-till corn has been calculated by University of Iowa researchers, who used diesel as the energy unit. The total energy cost of growing an acre of no-till corn is 46 gallons of diesel fuel. This figure can be broken down into several components. Manufacturing, mining, and distributing the required fertilizer for no-till corn uses 21 gallons of diesel fuel. The processes of planting, spraying, and harvesting use 2.5 gallons of diesel fuel. Manufacturing a pound of pesticide (active ingredient) takes the equivalent of one gallon of diesel fuel. Assuming a no-till farmer makes three pesticide applications of a pound or less, we can estimate that pesticide manufacture and distribution require three gallons of diesel fuel. Growing, processing, and distributing seed takes up another gallon, and we should also allow for two gallons for machinery manufacture and maintenance.
Thus, the total energy cost of producing 160 bushels of corn is 31.5 gallons of diesel fuel. Additionally, drying costs can use up to 0.09 gallons per bushel, which equates to 14.4 gallons for a 160-bushel crop. Therefore, the total energy requirement to grow and safely store an acre of no-till corn is approximately 46 gallons of diesel fuel.
It is worth noting that the energy cost of growing corn can also be measured in other units besides diesel fuel. For instance, the energy cost of growing an acre of no-till corn is equivalent to 1.1 barrels of crude oil, or approximately 1,752,000 Calories. This figure can be further contextualized by considering the total Calorie production from an acre of corn, which is approximately 13,880,000 Calories.
Furthermore, when discussing the energy cost of growing corn, it is important to consider the net energy gain. While 46 gallons of diesel fuel are required to grow an acre of no-till corn, the net energy gain from the grain is estimated to be 8.4 barrels per acre, or approximately 12.3 million Calories. This net energy then enters the economy as new wealth, contributing to various industries such as food, feed, ethanol, and other products.
In conclusion, the statement "46 gallons of diesel energy are needed to grow an acre of no-till corn" is supported by research and calculations that take into account various factors such as fertilizer manufacturing, planting, harvesting, pesticide use, seed processing, and drying costs. This energy cost has implications for the economy and the environment, highlighting the complex relationship between energy consumption and agricultural practices.
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50 gallons of crude oil are required to grow an acre of corn
The energy in a gallon of crude oil is roughly equivalent to the energy in a gallon of diesel. According to Michael Pollan, it takes about 50 gallons of crude oil (or 1.2 barrels) to grow an acre of corn. This is supported by calculations from the University of Iowa, which found that the total crude oil requirement to grow an acre of 160 bushels of corn is 50.4 gallons or 0.32 gallons per bushel.
The energy cost of growing an acre of no-till continuous corn can be calculated using diesel as the energy unit. Manufacturing, mining, and distributing the required fertilizer uses 21 gallons. Planting, spraying, and harvesting use 2.5 gallons. Drying corn from 22% moisture to a safe storage level requires 0.09 gallons per bushel, or about 14.5 gallons for a 160-bushel crop. The total gallons to grow an acre of Iowa no-till corn, therefore, comes to 46 gallons of diesel, which is the energy equivalent of 1.1 barrels of crude oil.
The oil industry average is that it takes one barrel of crude oil to extract, transport, and refine 10 barrels of crude oil. Therefore, we need to add 0.1 barrels to our total energy cost, bringing the total crude oil requirement to grow one acre of corn to 1.2 barrels or 50.4 gallons. This calculation considers the energy cost of growing corn, but it is important to also consider the energy gain from growing corn.
An acre of corn can generate 500 gallons of ethanol, which can be used as fuel. This ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of gasoline, so a comparable crossover SUV averaging 30 miles per gallon would travel only 10,000 miles per year on that acre of corn. However, the same acre of corn can also produce 100% of the protein and other things from the corn, which can be used as feed called distillers grains. Additionally, one Calorie of oil energy produced 9.5 Calories of food energy (grain only) and 11.8 Calories of refuse energy (roots and stover) to feed the soil biota and sequester carbon. Therefore, while 50 gallons of crude oil are required to grow an acre of corn, the energy and economic gains from that acre of corn can be significant.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 26.1 pounds (11.84 kg) of corn to make a gallon of ethanol.
An acre of corn can yield about 328 gallons of ethanol.
Growing an acre of corn requires about 50 gallons of crude oil or diesel fuel.
