Contents
- 1 How much fuel does it take to make ethanol?
- 2 How is energy converted into ethanol?
- 3 What is the price of ethanol per gallon?
- 4 How much corn does it take to make 1 gallon of ethanol?
- 5 Can I make ethanol at home?
- 6 How much does it cost to make 1 gallon of ethanol?
- 7 How many distillation steps are needed to make ethanol?
- 8 How is ethanol produced to replace fossil energy?
How much fuel does it take to make ethanol?
Ethanol from corn costs about $1.74 per gallon to produce, compared with about 95 cents to produce a gallon of gasoline. “That helps explain why fossil fuels — not ethanol — are used to produce ethanol,” Pimentel says. “The growers and processors can’t afford to burn ethanol to make ethanol.
How is energy converted into ethanol?
Sugars are fermented into ethanol and lignin is recovered and used to produce energy to power the process. The thermochemical conversion process involves adding heat and chemicals to a biomass feedstock to produce syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
What is the energy output of ethanol?
The 6.4 m3 of ethanol requires 2.82 GJ for its distribution. Based on these estimates, the energy output–input ratio for production and distribution of ethanol is approximately 3.7 (table 2).
How much does it cost to produce ethanol?
Plant construction costs of $2.11 per gallon of ethanol production capacity. 40% debt and 60% equity financing. 25% interest on 10-year loan for debt financing; loan fully repaid in 2017. A total of $0.21 fixed costs per gallon of ethanol produced through 2017 and $0.15 per gallon in 2018-2019.
What is the price of ethanol per gallon?
Energy
| Name | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanol | 2.22 | USD per Gallon |
| Heating Oil | 56.80 | USD per 100 Liter |
| Coal | 133.35 | USD per Ton |
| RBOB Gasoline | 2.29 | USD per Gallone |
How much corn does it take to make 1 gallon of ethanol?
Through research performed at Cornell University, we know that 1 acre of land can yield about 7,110 pounds (3,225 kg) of corn, which can be processed into 328 gallons (1240.61 liters) of ethanol. That is about 26.1 pounds (11.84 kg) of corn per gallon.
What is the formula of ethanol?
C2H5OH
Ethanol/Formula
The molecular formula of ethanol is C2H6O, indicating that ethanol contains two carbons and an oxygen. However, the structural formula of ethanol, C2H5OH, provides a little more detail, and indicates that there is an hydroxyl group (-OH) at the end of the 2-carbon chain (Figure 1.1).
Why is ethanol not used as fuel?
Ethanol is bad for cold-starting, because it doesn’t burn as quickly as gasoline. (It has a higher octane, if you’re interested.) Pure ethanol would be useless as fuel in the winter months. Even Flexible-Fuel vehicles (FFVs) – which can run on petrol or ethanol – can only take up to E85.
Can I make ethanol at home?
Making your own ethanol is legal. All you need is a permit. You can produce fuel from your own crops. From an acre of corn, you could produce 300 gallons of ethanol.
How much does it cost to make 1 gallon of ethanol?
Every time you make 1 gallon of ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 Btu.” * Ethanol from corn costs about $1.74 per gallon to produce, compared with about 95 cents to produce a gallon of gasoline.
How much energy does it take to make one gallon of ethanol?
Every time you make 1 gallon of ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 Btu.” * Ethanol from corn costs about $1.74 per gallon to produce, compared with about 95 cents to produce a gallon of gasoline. “That helps explain why fossil fuels — not ethanol — are used to produce ethanol,” Pimentel said.
How is ethanol produced and how is it used?
Plants used in ethanol production harness the power of the sun to grow. By releasing the energy stored in corn and other feedstocks, ethanol production utilizes solar energy, replacing fossil energy use.
How many distillation steps are needed to make ethanol?
As many as three distillation steps are needed to separate the 8 percent ethanol from the 92 percent water. Additional treatment and energy are required to produce the 99.8 percent pure ethanol for mixing with gasoline.
How is ethanol produced to replace fossil energy?
By releasing the energy stored in corn and other feedstocks, ethanol production utilizes solar energy, replacing fossil energy use. A life cycle analysis of ethanol production – from the field to the vehicle – found that ethanol has a large and growing positive fossil energy balance.