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According to the US Department of Agriculture,
each gallon of corn ethanol today delivers as
much as 2.3 times more energy than is used
to produce it. Research show current ethanol
production provides greenhouse gas reductions
between 30 and 49 percent compared to
gasoline.
The US Department of Agriculture says each BTU
(British Thermal Unit, an energy measure) used
to produce a BTU of gasoline could be used to
produce 8 BTUs of ethanol. (FFVs) only.
About
Ethanol
The
Process
The nonprofit American Coalition for Ethanol says
ethanol production is “extremely energy efficient”,
with a positive energy balance of 125%, compared
to 85% for gasoline, making ethanol production “by
far the most efficient method of producing liquid
transportation fuels” which is also renewable.
E10 is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.
It is approved for use by every major auto maker
in the world. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and
15% gasoline, and is designed for use in Flex-Fuel
Vehicles (FFVs) only.
Ethanol is a clean burning, high octane, renewable
fuel produced from abundant agricultural and
cellulosic feed-stocks. Ethanol, an alcohol fuel, also
provides high quality, high octane for exceptional
engine performance and reduced emissions.
Grain
Milling + bran
separation
Mashing
Liquefaction
Saccharification
Fermentation
Process
Distillation
Dehydration
Ethanol storage
Evaporator
DDGS Drier
Decantation
Water
Condensate
Polisher
Permeate
B i o e t h a n o l
D D G S
Ethanol can be used as an effective octane-
boosting fuel additive or as a stand-alone fuel. All
credible comparisons to gasoline demonstrate a
clear reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with
the use of ethanol.
Several teams in the international racing com-
petitions use ethanol because of its high octane
and exceptional performance. Ethanol is the only
low carbon alternative to gasoline available in
adequate and growing supplies today.
Ethanol can be produced from biomass by the
hydrolysis and sugar fermentation processes.
There are three principle methods of extracting
sugars from biomass. These are concentrated acid
hydrolysis, dilute acid hydrolysis and enzymatic
hydrolysis.