Ethanol: Gasoline of the Crop

With increasing gas prices that individuals refuse to pay combined with the finite supply of oil on the earth, what new technology will replace society’s dependence on a depleting resource?

How does Ethanol as an alternative fuel source benefit or hinder society and/or the environment?

Is Ethanol the ANSWER?

Matt Davis Mercer School of Engineering

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol=CH3CH2OH( Ethanol Molecule), a clear, colorless liquid, that obtained from the fermentation of sugar or converted starch contained in grains and other agricultural or agri-forest feedstocks

Pure 100% Ethanol is rarely used as motor oil As an alternative fuel, Ethanol is combined with unleaded

gasoline and is commonly seen in two forms: E10 and E85

E10= 10% ethanol + 90% gasoline

E85= 85% ethanol + 15% gasoline

Environment

Ethanol greatly reduces the amount of GHG emissions Ethanol blends are likely to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in

vehicles between 10%-30%, View Emission Reduction % In 2004, ethanol use in the U.S. reduced CO2-equivalent green

house gas emissions by approximately 7 million tons, equal to removing the emissions of more than 1 million cars from the road

The quantity of CO2 released through emissions is equal to what was previously removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in the crop production View Ethanol Carbon Cycle

The airborne emissions, and the liquid and solid wastes produced from the ethanol production process contain no problems that cannot be addressed by conventional waste treatment

Agriculture, Farming, & Rural Communities The production of Ethanol offers a flourishing industry that

creates numerous jobs in rural communities in need of employment An estimated 160,000 jobs were created in 2006 as a

result of the ethanol industry’s expansion The demand increase in ethanol increases the demand for

crops like corn, increasing the prices farmers receive for their crops Ethanol production will generate an additional $19.6

million in household income annually Ultimately, ethanol brings economic development opportunity

to areas where ethanol is produced

Government

The United States is burdened with the possible risk of trade deficits, supply disruption, and price changes as a result of the U.S.’s heavy reliance on imported petroleum The trade deficit in crude oil has increased from $27 billion in 1987

to $100 billion in 2002 U.S. fuel consumption increased from 12 billions gallons per year

in 1970, to 160 billion gallons in 2002 For every barrel of ethanol produced (1 barrel=42 gallons),

1.2barrels of petroleum are displaced at the refinery American made, renewable ethanol reduces the United State’s need to

import, giving the U.S. energy security and independence from foreign sources of energy

Technology: FFV

FFV= Flexible Fuel Vehicle Flexible fuel vehicles have the potential to operate on any mix of ethanol

and gasoline whether the fuel includes E85, E10 , pure gasoline, or any combination possible in between.

Combined, U.S. automakers have produced a total of nearly 6 million E85 FFVs

Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler have committed to doubling the production of FFVs by 2010

Negative Characteristics of Ethanol

Negative Characteristics of Ethanol

The link above connects you to a video presentation that counters the positive claims listed in the previous slides. In order to fairly present the true facts and allow you as an individual make the personal decision whether to support the production of ethanol, one must be able to identify and accept the consequences and negative attributes associated with a certain position on a particular subject.

Environment at Risk???

Corn uses the highest amount of herbicides and pesticides which could result in harmful fertilization pollution

Corn erodes soil about twelve times faster than the soil can be naturally reformed

Corn depletes ground water 25% faster than the natural recharge rate

Why is this important?: In order to match the consumption of gasoline in the U.S. with an ethanol energy source, U.S. agriculture will have to dramatically increase the amount of corn harvested. This increase in production, however, also increases the risk for the environmental consequences listed above

Things To Consider…

Do not be mistaken, Ethanol does not present an absolute change in eliminating the importation of oil from foreign suppliers. The use of Ethanol as an alternative fuel serves to help bring this exhausting dependence of foreign petroleum to a manageable level

Numerous factors such as: differences in corn yields credit for the energy content of non-ethanol by products such as

distillers and grains, varied technologies at different processing plants regional costs of machinery, fertilizer, irrigation and transportation

All contribute to the discrepancy between studies and statistics

Things to Consider…

Although numbers and figures of anticipated improvements are small ( probably 0 to 15%, depending on meteorological

conditions, the source of pollutants and model used), the statistics are still significant because ozone reduction is rigorously difficult to achieve. On a grand scale, the numbers projected display a dramatic change in comparison to the current direction the environment is taking

After seeing both the potential positives and negatives of Ethanol in it’s current and future state, does Ethanol have the necessary characteristics to become the United States‘ next fuel energy source. If so , How will change come about? What role do you as an individual have in influencing this undeniable issue in today’s society? Whether Ethanol is the right choice, YOU have the ability to steer the path that Ethanol as an alternative fuel takes in our future!!!

Biblioagraphy

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Data Center: What is Ethanol?. (2007). Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc

American Coalition for Ethanol: Home. (n.d.). Retreived March 24, 2008, from http://ethanol.org/index.php?id=34&parentid=8

Cusham, J. H., & Lynd, L. R., & Nichols, R. J., & Wyam, C.E. (1991). Fuel Ethanol From Cellulosic Biomass. Science, New Series, 251. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8075%2819910315%293%3A251%3A4999%3C1318%3AFEFCB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X

Moreria, N. (2005). Growing Expectations. Science News, 168. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8423%2820051001%29168%3A14%3C218%3AGE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M

Potera, C. (2002). Alternative Fuels: The Economics of Ethanol. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0091-6765%28200201%29110%3A1%3CA18%3AAFTEOE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O

Picture Reference Picture Corn/Gas/Fieldhttp://a.abcnews.com/images/Business/ethanol_graphic_070426_ms.jpg

Picture Carbon cyclehttp://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/images/photos/ethanol_fuel_diagram.gif

Picture Ethanol Molecule http://www.lansingethanolservices.com/assets/ch3ch2oh.jpg

Picture Ethanol Plant http://ecotality.com/life/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/farmers-ethanol-plants.jpg

Picture Ford FFV http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/03/16/000731.2-lg.jpg

Table Ethanol Reduction % http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/images/biomass_atp_enviro_ghemissions.gif

Picture E85 http://www.rune85.com/E85.jpg