-how ethanol is made-using ethanol in your car-better gas mileage-the effects of ethanol on your engine

Ethanol is another name for ethyl alcohol, or “grain alcohol”

Made from corn starch it is 200 proof ethanol.

First of all there are two types of processes.

Wet milling: this is probably only 20% of the plants in the US.

Dry milling: is about 80% of the plants in the US.

The difference is how the starch (typically corn starch) is processed in the beginning. Steeped or not steeped.

Starch

Starch belongs to a group of chemical compounds called carbohydrates which are energy storage units in plants such as corn.

They are called this because they contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen or sugar (i.e. glucose) molecules.

These glucose molecules are connected together and can be broken down by enzymes then used as “food” for yeast cells.

• Endosperm – This is the part where the starch comes from. Part of the gluten also comes from here. 65-75% of the kernel is comprised of this.

• Germ – this is the part of the corn that oi l is made from. About 5% of the kernel is comprised of germ.

• Pericarp – This is the outer layer of the kernel. It comprises 5% of the kernel.

• Tip Cap – where the kernel obtains nutrients to grow.

• Other components – Moisture comprises about 15% and ash and other solubles are about 6%.

Starch is a series of sugar molecules linked together in corn and it has two main parts: amylose and amylopectin.

Amylose is a straight or linear chain of sugar molecules linked together.

Amylopectin is a branched chain of sugars called dextrins.

Yeast convert sugar into alcohol – the same fermentation process that has been used for thousands of years, although on a much larger scale. A typical dry mill production facility produces 50 to 100 million gallons of ethanol a year!!!

Corn and/or Milo is delivered to the silos.

Then ground into a flour by the hammer mills.

The hammer mill hoppers have screens to measure the particle sizes going into the plant to keep larger particles out. Such as cobs and/or rocks.

The flour is sent by vacuum and conveyor belt to the Mingler to mix and then sent to the Slurry Tank.

CookingLiquefactionSaccharificationFermentationDistillationBiproducts

The addition of water, heat and enzymes break the ground corn into fine slurry.

The slurry is heated for sterilization and is pumped to a Liquefaction tank where other enzymes and heat are added to convert the starches into glucose sugars.

Next the corn slurry (mash) is pumped into fermentors where yeast is added to begin the forty-eight to fifty hour batch fermentation process.

After the fermentation process the “beer” is sent to the beer well.

After fermentation, the resulting "beer" is transferred to distillation columns where the ethanol is separated from the remaining "stillage."

The ethanol is concentrated to 190 proof using conventional distillation and then is dehydrated to approximately 200 proof in a molecular sieve system.

The solubles are then concentrated and used as Condensed Distillers Solubles (CDS) or "syrup.“

The coarse grain and the syrup are then dried

together to produce dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a high quality, nutritious livestock feed.

The CO2 released during fermentation is captured and sold for use in carbonating soft drinks and beverages and the manufacture of dry ice.

WET FEED or DRY FEED mixed with SYRUP!! Makes Happy Cows!!

Carbon Dioxide Captured!!!!Carbon Dioxide puts fizz in your drink!!

Ethanol from the ethanol plant has denaturant in it, so don’t drink it!

E10 is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline and denaturant, it can be used in ANY car.

E85 is 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline and denaturant.

Different types of denaturant are added due to the climate in different areas. Ethanol does not spark as good as gasoline.

Using ethanol will clean out your engine sludge that is why you need good filters if converting. Reducing knocking and pinging.

Ethanol (E85) doesn’t have as much energy as gasoline. But it has lower emissions and better for your engine.

Using Ethanol is less expensive and does improve your mileage because it is higher in octane than gas.

Government tests have proven that using E85 help to reduce hydrocarbon, benzene, and carbon dioxide emissions!!! These are major contributors to global warming and pollution.

CO2 is released during ethanol production BUT it is recaptured and used in the soda pop you are drinking!!

Using Ethanol helps to decrease carbons in the carbon cycle unlike fossil fuel combustion.

Ethanol also degrades quickly in water which is less of a risk during a spill than gasoline. It is biodegradable!!

Vin number: the 2nd and 3rd number of the vin tells the manufacture of the car.

The 4th through the 8th tells the car’s brand, engine size, and type.

So, the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th numbers in the vin identify flex fuel vehicles.

Easier yet, look at your gas cap or buy a FFV (flex fuel vehicle, can use either gas or E85) www.e85fuel.com

The largest difference between an E85 powered vehicle and a gasoline powered vehicle is that their computer modules are meant to read different amounts of oxygen within the fuel.  E85 contains a higher amount of oxygen. Your "check engine light" will come on.

Other modifications have to be made to be compatible with using ethanol. The fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel injectors, computer system, and anti-siphon devices.

Only one way has government approval. The easy way….

FlexTek is simply a computer component that changes the pulse width of your injectors. You simply remove your injector plugs on your fuel injectors and insert them into the FlexTek.

FlexTek works by opening the injectors open longer and sending more fuel through to the combustion chamber.

The FlexTek has a switch reading  "A" or "G“. Running Alcohol (E85) or Gasoline.

Use high quality synthetic oil! E10 and E85 can be corrosive, especially if converting an older car. Have the oil changed on schedule.

Use High Flow Air Filter. These will catch any particles that may flake off from the engine.

Use Fuel Efficient spark plugs with cold start warranty.

Lastly, change the fuel filter if having trouble early on.

Enzymes:http://www.genencor.com/cms/connect/genencorwww.enzymedevelopment.comCompatible cars:http://gmdynamic.com/gmfuelcalc/http://e85-ifc.comhttp://www.e85fuel.com/pdf/vin.pdfFuel calculator:http://gmdynamic.com/gmfuelcalc/Link for other gas powered engines:http://www.ethanolrfa.org/resource/warranty/

Video ethanolhttp://www.drivingethanol.org/ethanol_facts/ethanol_flash_demo.htm

Where to buy E85 http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol_locations.html or http://www.e85refueling.com/locations.php?state=ksKansas

Cara’s email: iucarabou@yahoo.com