What is your opinion on ethanol?

Question

I'm doing a survey for school

Answer 1

i have heard that ethanol is less fuel efficient. yes it burns more eco friendly, but idk what would happen to the prices of corn and everything else that goes into the ethanol that burns less fuel efficiently, causing us to buy more of it,

but i would rather have more fuel efficient fuel, than less

oh and i could be wrong about the first sentence, so u might wanna check up on it

Answer 2

different people have different reasons.

my opinion is that corn may not be the right material to start with. seems that sugar cane, and artichokes may be better suited.

but here is the biggest thing for me.

the corn is generally raised on U.S. farms, by U.S. farmers. the Alcohol is distilled in plants in the United States employing people in the united states to work for them. the distribution of Alcohol is more labor intense, requiring transportation by truck or train, also employing more people in the united states.

virtually every dollar you spend on ethanol stays here in the united states. for every 10 people employed in the process you can add one more person that is employed in a service industry.

Etininhol is not as efficient as gasoline. but the dollars spent stay right here in the united states.

Answer 3

ethanol is being used in Brazil and other countries as fuel for years now but the US companies are still arguing about it. ethanol is needed now and should be developed.

Answer 4

ethanol has its advantages and disadvantages.

advantages:

it is a renewable fuel

you can make ethanol from many different sources, not just corn. in fact wheat, rye, potatos, the agave plant, sugar cane, sugar beets, etc. if you look at what is on the shelves at your local liquor store, you will see all the things that ethanol can be made from.

you can make your own fuel if you are willing to make the effort, and file the proper paperwork with the ATF.

disadvatages:

ethanol requires heat to distill, and thus requires energy to produce.

many of the things ethanol can be made from are food products, either human or animal, and thus drive up the price of food on the market.

ethanol made from non-food items is harder to do.

ethanol is a solvent, and requires fuel system mods to prevent damage.

you need to run nearly twice as much ethanol as gasoline due to the lower btu content of ethanol.

ethanol does not burn any cleaner than gasoline does, that is a myth created because the sensors that read gasoline emissions cant read alcohol emissions because alcohol burns colder than gasoline does.

Answer 5

I love the stuff.  I've got a can of 3.2% ethanol going right now.

Answer 6

I currently run ethanol (corn alcohol) in a 1999 Dodge 3500 truck. But all Cummins engines were modified from the factory to run on BioD since around 1992 without any modification.

Most vehicles are already equipped to run on Alternative Energy. In fact you’re probably even driving one right now and didn’t even know it. Go to www agua-luna com for a list of this vehicles

Ethanol doesn’t go bad like petroleum it’s just Alcohol. It’s what preserves your wine and gets better as the years go by.

Ethanol is a much cleaner fuel than petrol (gasoline):



It is a renewable fuel made from plants

It is not a fossil-fuel: manufacturing it and burning it does not increase the greenhouse effect

It provides high octane at low cost as an alternative to harmful fuel additives

Ethanol blends can be used in all petrol engines without modifications

Ethanol is biodegradable without harmful effects on the environment

It significantly reduces harmful exhaust emissions

Ethanol's high oxygen content reduces carbon monoxide levels more than any other oxygenate: by 25-30%, according to the US EPA

Ethanol blends dramatically reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer

High-level ethanol blends reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 20%

Ethanol can reduce net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100% on a full life-cycle basis

High-level ethanol blends can reduce emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by 30% or more (VOCs are major sources of ground-level ozone formation)

As an octane enhancer, ethanol can cut emissions of cancer-causing benzene and butadiene by more than 50%



Sulphur dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions are significantly decreased with ethanol.

Lastly and my favorite.. It can be made at home.

It will cost about $1.10 to $1.20/gal to make the alcohol from various feed-stocks like corn, barley, potatoes, or Jerusalem artichokes. You will also have by-products which you can sell or use as animal feed, reducing the total cost down to about $.95/gal.

Biofuel is recognized by both the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy as an alternative fuel, and qualifies for mandated programs under the Clean Air Act Amendments and the Environmental Protection Act of 1992 (EPAct).

USDA Clears Air with Biofuel: Buses and other diesel-burning vehicles run cleaner if they mix biofuel with regular diesel fuel, said the US Department of Agriculture at a biofuel fuel seminar at a USDA research center.

Conversely most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

The following are a couple types of products to make ethanol easily. There are however many materials one can use including sugar cane, corn, wood, etc. The information was cut directly from a guide I offer at www agua-luna com, it is complete but if anyone’s interested in other types of foods to use or a more specific step by step of the process, including building your own still legally, visit www agua-luna com

"THE usual sources of raw material for alcohol Ethanol production from starch are cereal grains such as corn, wheat, rye, barley, milo (sorghum grains), rice, etc. Other types of starch are available from potatoes of all kinds, Jerusalem artichokes, and other high-starch vegetables. Starch conversion is the standard method of production and the one we will discuss here.

It is possible, however, to make alcohol from sugar-producing plants (saccharine material) such as sugar beets, sugarcane, fruits, and others. These substances need no milling (as do grains), but they do require some kind of grinding or squeezing process. Rapid, efficient fermentation of these sugars has not been as well explored as the process using starch.

A third source of fermentables is cellulose, as found in wood and waste sulphite liquor. This more complex process requires the use of acids to reduce the material to wood sugars. Consequently, most do-it-yourselfers should stick to either starch or sugar.

MILLING

All grains must be ground before mashing to expose the starch granules and help them remain in suspension in a water solution. The grain should be ground into a meal -- not a flour! -- that will pass a 20-mesh screen. On a hammermill, however, a 3/16" screen will suffice.

Potatoes and similar high-moisture starch crops should be sliced or finely chopped. Since potato starch granules are large and easily ruptured, it isn't necessary to maintain the hard rapid boil which is required of the tougher, dryer "flinty" starches found in grains.

CONVERSION WITH ENZYMES

For small batches (5 bushels or less), fill the cooker with water (30 gallons per bushel), and add the meal slowly, to prevent lumps from forming. (When, cooking with steam, or at higher temperatures, it is possible to save energy by using less water at the beginning. But for the "small batcher" with an ordinary cooking apparatus, the most complete conversion is obtained by using the full amount of water right from the start to encourage a rapid rolling boil.)

Next, add 3 measuring spoons -- as provided -- per bushel of Alpha Amylase Enzyme (mixed in water) to the mixture and raise the temperature of the mash to 170 deg F (77 deg C), the optimum working environment for the enzyme. Hold the solution at that temperature for 15 minutes while agitating it vigorously.

At this point all the starch available at 170 deg F has been converted to dextrins, so it's time to raise the temperature of the mash to the boiling point. The concoction should be liquid enough to roll at its own rate -- if not, add 2 to 3 gallons of water. Hold the boil for 30 minutes to complete the liquefaction stage. All the starches are now in solution.

Now reduce the temperature to 170 deg F, using the cooling coil, and add 3 more measuring spoons per bushel of Alpha Amylase Enzyme (mixed in water). After 30 minutes of agitation at this temperature, all the previously released starches will have been reduced to dextrins, thereby completing primary conversion.

During secondary conversion the dextrins are further reduced to simple sugars (maltose and glucose) by the beta, or -- to be more exact -- glucoamylase enzymes. You need Alpha Amylase Enzyme and the yeast necessary to carry out secondary conversion and proper fermentation simultaneously, you can add 6 measuring spoons per bushel of the fermentation powder (mixed in water) as soon as you've brought the temperature down to 85 deg F (29 deg C) using the cooling coils."

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming, Receive a FREE Solar Panels Now!!!

Answer 7

Terrible idea. Too much corn production is being used for ethanol (which requires *more* fossil fuel to make than it gives back) which in turn is driving up all other farming costs. That's why eggs and milk are at all time highs.

The only people who benefit from ethanol are corn farmers and the politicians who got paid off to push this farce.

Answer 8

ethanol is a step in the right direction, but the problem is that it won't last forever b/c there is simply not enough acreage in the world to sustain enough corn that's needed for everyone cars.

Answer 9

Horrible idea. It takes a lot of energy to produce, increases the price of food, and contributes to global warming. Ethanol solves nothing. Brazil has had to cut down thousands of acres of rainforest to grow the sugar cane from which it derives its ethanol.

Answer 10

ethonal is the worst solution to the oil crisis. it takes just as much fossil fuel to make ethanol as you get in the end so your not getting anywhere. hydrogen is the future not ethanol.

Answer 11

Tastes like horse p*ss.