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Q&A Q. What is ethanol?A. Ethanol is “ethyl alcohol,” 100-proof grain alcohol. An ethanol plant produces fuel-grade ethanol, and that ethanol is then blended in a percentage with gasoline to make a finished motor fuel. Terminology is important because the term “ethanol” means different things to different people: • “Ethanol” is the 100% pure ethanol coming from the production facility. Sometimes people say “ethanol” and mean the blend of 10% ethanol / 90% gasoline called E10. • Sometimes people say “ethanol” and mean the blend of 85% ethanol / 15% gasoline called E85. • Different definitions of “ethanol” can lead to confusion, such as the misunderstandings that “a special vehicle is required to run on ethanol” or that “ethanol is only available at a small portion of the nation’s gas stations.” In these cases, people say “ethanol” but actually mean the alternative fuel E85. Q. What is the difference between ethanol and methanol? A. Both ethanol and methanol are alcohols. Ethanol is fermented alcohol, also used as beverage alcohol, made primarily from grain but may also be made from various sources such as starch or sugar from potatoes, cheese whey, sugar cane, or even from the cellulose in plant material or waste paper. Methanol is usually made from natural gas or coal, and is also known as "wood alcohol". Methanol is highly corrosive, more volatile than ethanol, highly toxic, should not be consumed by humans or animals, and can be damaging to plastic and rubber fuel system components (elastomers). Q. How is ethanol made? A. Ethanol made from grain, corn and sugar beet. It is economically profitable to made ethanol from grain, especially from wheat on Latvian lands and on the lands of our closest neighbors because of today existing climate. It is known some kind of wheat which especially reasonable process into ethanol. The economical norms of working out from one hectare of so-called “ethanol” wheat considerably exceed some other sort of cereals from one hectare of area. The technology which allows to made ethanol from corn is good known for a long time. This kind of cereal used in the USA and also on many of plants of West Europe countries. Rare of plants continue to produce ethanol from sugar beets. But in the Brazil because of existing climate it is economically profitable to made ethanol from sugar beet. Q. How much of ethanol can I get from one ton of grain? A. The average norm of working out is about 370 liters of ethanol per ton of wheat. In addition, the process can yield 1/3 of a ton of high protein livestock feed. Q. Can ethanol be made from off-grade or damaged wheat? A. Yes, depending on the nature and extent of the damage to the wheat it may still be usable, although the ethanol yield may be reduced and the value of the distiller’s grains may be affected. A lower price paid for the damaged wheat by the ethanol processor may offset the reduced value of the end products. Of course the grain not in any case should be damage by certain illness of crops, because in this case it is impossible to work it into. Grain tested in plant’s laboratory before reception of load. By this gives the quality’s guaranty of initial materials and also ready product. Q. Can ethanol be made from materials other than wheat? A. Yes. It is also possible to convert cellulose materials to ethanol. Cellulosic materials, or plants materials, include trees, grasses, wastepaper, crop residues, and even municipal solid waste. Cellulosic ethanol is currently too expensive to compete with grain as a feedstock due to the enzymes necessary to convert the plant materials, but new technologies could make it a commercial reality within a few years. This would mean not only having a greater supply of renewable, clean burning ethanol but would also reduce the amount of waste entering our landfills. Today in the USA, Canada, Sweden and many other countries it is invests big cash flow in the scientific projects by development of commercial profitable methods of ethanol’s getting out from cellulose. Q. What is cellulosic ethanol? A. Cellulosic biomass, dubbed the most abundant material on earth, holds tremendous promise as a feedstock for ethanol production due to its widespread availability and potential for high fuel yields. Examples of sources for cellulosic ethanol include corn straw (the stalks and husks left over after harvest), wheat and barley straw, sugarcane or rice bagasse, sawdust, paper pulp, small diameter trees, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass and other fast-growing grasses. Q. Is the ethanol from cellulose and corn the same? A. Yes, the ethanol produced from corn or milo and the ethanol produced from cellulose are identical. Q. What is the technology to made ethanol? A. The technology is known already for a long time. Grain or corn milled. Starch isolated from this mass. From starch produced ethanol or spirit. Today it is possible to improve some separate elements of technology with the target to increase production’s efficiency. But in general discern two technologies of ethanol production – method of a wet and a dry production. Q. What is the difference between a wet and a dry mill ethanol plant? A. The wet mill process soaks the grain kernels until a machine can separate the components. The germ is removed; the starch is removed for industrial or food uses or conversion into sweeteners, degradable plastics, proteins, pharmaceuticals and many other consumer products including ethanol. The remaining protein gluten meal and protein gluten feeds are sold on the protein market. The dry mill process grinds the grain to flour and the entire product goes through the fermentation procedure where the starch is converted to ethanol. After the ethanol is distilled off, the remainder is dried and sold as a protein. There is a greater range of products that can be made in a wet mill than a dry mill, but the cost to build and operate a wet mill plant is much higher. Q. What is left of from the wheat after the ethanol is removed? A. Only the starch is removed in ethanol production, so all the protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and some of the caloric energy remains. This product is called as grains. It is important constituent for human food nutritious or livestock food. Q. Which additional cost will be for worked out wheat? A. The price will increase double. Economists in the USA calculated that during the process wheat to ethanol, fodder of food additive the self price of end product will increased double comparing with self price of starting product. That means $2.00 bushel of wheat could be processed in an ethanol plant to produce about $1.00 worth of feed and about $3.00 worth of fuel. Q. Can farmers buy dried fodder grains on spirit plant? A. Yes. Wheat grains contain big amount of good components which use during producing of food additive and fodder. For producing of food additive is necessary particular technology. Farmers in general can buy the grains and also as fodder for livestock, but it is economically profitable to work out grains. It contains big amount of protein and usually sells as fodder for poultry and livestock. Q. How does the use of fuel blended with ethanol benefit the environment? A. Gasoline blended with bio-ethanol will reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by up to 30%. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that contributes to air pollution. It is of particular concern when vehicles are operating at lower temperatures. Oxygenated gasoline, such as ethanol blends, lower the levels of CO emitted, by promoting a more complete combustion of the fuel. Gasoline blended with 10% ethanol will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) entering the atmosphere between 4 and 7%. Carbon dioxide is a normal product of burning fuels that contribute to global warming. More CO2 is absorbed by crop growth than is released by the production and use of ethanol. Q. Does ethanol blended fuel burn cleaner than premium gasoline (more than 90)? A. Many premium rated gasoline are blended with ethanol. If gasoline contains oxygen it will burn cleaner than a non-ethanol blended gasoline. Premium gasoline is no cleaner than gasoline of a lower octane. Q. What are the advantages to using ethanol blended fuels? A. Ethanol is a renewable fuel, whereas gasoline is a fossil fuel. Ethanol will burn cleaner in your engine. Ethanol use will lower carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring a cleaner environment. Our economies, both local and national, will be less dependent on imported gasoline. There will be more economic opportunities for rural areas, not to mention improved farm incomes. Q. If I use ethanol won’t it spoil the engine of my car? A. This answer is necessary to divide on two parts. First of all it is necessary to say about volume of bio-ethanol admixtures which is 5%. This amount not affect on quality of fuel and work of engine and it is allowed by approved standards of EU by quality of fuel. Secondary it is necessary to tell about big volume of bio-ethanol admixture in fuel. In the USA and EU it is known fuel E85 which composition is 85% of bio-ethanol and only 15% of fuel. This kind of fuel is used in specially provide for this kind of fuel engines. Many of cars manufacturers started successful production of this kind of cars. Q. Will ethanol burn valves? A. Ethanol will not burn valves. Ethanol burns cooler than gasoline and as a result, many high-powered racing engines use pure ethanol for that reason. Q. Does ethanol usage lead to plugged fuel filters? A. Ethanol can loosen contaminants and residues that have been deposited by previous gasoline usage, which can collect in the fuel filter. This problem has happened occasionally in older cars, which often have a lot of residue buildup, and can easily be corrected by changing the fuel filter. Symptoms of a plugged fuel filter will be hesitation, misfiring, and a general loss of power. Once your car’s fuel system is clean, you may note improved performance. Q. Can ethanol ever be blended at levels more than 5%? A. Currently in EU it is allowed to add in fuel 5% of bio-ethanol and in fuel E85 - 85 %. European commission develops fuel’s standards of quality and provides 10% admixture of bio-ethanol. But for example in Brazil sells a 22% ethanol blend instead of 5% as a way to extend their petroleum supplies. Cars manufacturers must implement necessary technology to have possibilities for cars to use bio-ethanol in big values what will be more safely for the environment. Q. Will my vehicle run on ethanol-blended fuel? A. All vehicles are “ethanol-capable” and can use a blend of up to 5% ethanol and 95% fuel. This “E5” is the most common way ethanol is sold to motorists in the EU. Q. What is E85? How do I know if my vehicle can use it? A. E85 is not gasoline, but rather an alternative fuel comprised of 85% ethanol / 15% unleaded gasoline for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). These vehicles owners have a choice whether to use E85 (or any blend of ethanol up to that 85% level) or straight unleaded gasoline. On some vehicle models this ability to use various fuel blends comes as an option, and on some it is a standard feature. To identify whether a vehicle is “flexible fuel”, check the owners manual and inside the gas cap. Today more and more numbers of car manufacturers offer friendly to environment cars called as FFV – cars provided for using exactly E85. Q. Can my vehicle run on E85 even if it’s not an FFV? A. If your vehicle is not an FFV, use of any higher ethanol percentage than 5% is not covered by warranty of the vehicle. Fuel E85 can be used only in specially provided for it cars. Q. Can I convert my vehicle to use E85? A. In theory, it is possible. Q. What is ethanol’s “net energy balance”? A. “Net energy balance” is a term used to describe how much energy is needed to produce a product versus how much energy that product provides. The latest USDA figures show that ethanol made from the dry mill process provides at least 77% more energy as a fuel than the process it takes to make it. It takes about 35,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy to create a gallon of ethanol, and that gallon of ethanol contains at least 77,000 BTUs of energy. |
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