Can you use algea with for EFuel100?(link provided)?

Question

Do you have to use their yeast stuff they can send you or can you use algae or other things to produce ethanol?

http://www.efuel100.com/default.aspx

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080508/sc_nm/ethanol_homemade_dc;_ylt=Avd9inWL_7pyUeD_pLVVabBpl88F

Answer 1

Ethanol can be made from the sugars found in any plant material.

Does algae have enough sugar to make it as economically viable for ethanol production as is corn or sugar cane?

I doubt it.

Answer 2

If you are thinking of using algae in place of the yeast, then no.  Yeast produce ethanol as a waste product of their feeding on sugar, algae do not (they photosynthesize and produce sugars).

If you are thinking of using algae in place of the sugar, then that may be possible.  As algae grow they produce cellulose, starch, and other sugars, just as any plant does.  They also produce oils.  Some have suggested growing algae, harvesting it, pressing out the oil (for biodiesel), and then using enzymes to break down the starches to create sugar for fermentation.

The only thing I'm not sure about is how the MicroFueler will handle the additional undigested materials remaining after fermentation.  Normally, the yeast would grow and need to be removed after some time.  Using algal starches, about 40% of what you put in would remain as undigested waste, in addition to the growing yeast cake.  I guess you could use enzymes to hydrolyze the starches in the algal remains, and then filter it to separate the sugary liquid from the other bits.  You could then use the separated liquid in the MicroFueler without any problems.

PS - Finding your own cheap sugar source is probably a good idea.  The E-Fuel Corporation's claim of $1.00 per gallon flips on my skepticism switch.  The only problem is the thing is made to ferment and filter syrup, without any extra bits.

HOWEVER!!! - The MicroFueler has a distillation (recovery) mode.  You could use your own fermenter to make an alcohol solution, filter it, and then pour 250 gallons straight into the thing.  But be aware that it can only store 35 gallons of ethanol, but it can distill 70 gallons a week.

In all truth, the MicroFueler uses a zeolite membrane (probably from Vaperma) to separate the ethanol from the water in a vacuum distillation process.  You could probably build your own equipment to do this task.