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Ethanol is a popular intoxicating element in alcoholic beverages and an alternative fuel source. The production process involves procuring grains or plants, converting them into sugar, fermentation, distillation, and adding gasoline. Ethanol is now a major fuel source in many countries, including Brazil, France, Sweden, India, China, Russia, South Africa, the UK, Spain, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Germany.
Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, is the intoxicating element of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. It is also used as an alternative to biofuels in several countries around the world. Large industrial plants are the primary sources of ethanol production, although some people have chosen to make their own fuel on ethanol. Whether production is done in series or in a backyard, the basic steps for producing ethanol are the same; procuring the grain or plant, converting it into sugar, fermentation, distillation and adding gasoline.
The first step in producing ethanol is choosing the grain or plant to begin the process. Grains such as corn, rye, rice, barley, soybeans and wheat are all popular, but sugar beets and sugar cane are also effective. Some producers use high-starch plants such as potatoes, and New Zealand produces ethanol from whey waste. In the United States, corn is the most popular choice; Brazil uses sugar cane predominantly, Canada uses barley, and the main choices in the European Union are sugar beets and wheat.
Once the grain is chosen, it must be ground into a coarse powder. The result shouldn’t be as fine as flour, however, because it will clump together like a paste during the liquefaction process. The ground substance is then slowly added to the water and heated. A liquefying enzyme is added and the mixture is boiled for 20-30 minutes to kill any bacteria present.
The next step in ethanol production is the fermentation process. Once the liquid mixture has been removed from the heat, the yeast is added and the liquid is left to ferment. The resulting product is similar to beer or wine. After fermentation, the liquid is passed through a pot still to separate the alcohol from the water. A carbon filter is used alongside to remove any solid particles.
At the end of the distillation process, a desiccant is added to absorb the carbon dioxide and water. The alcohol is usually allowed to sit for several hours, then another screening process is done. This final product should be a 200 proof alcohol, which can be tested using a hydrometer. The final step in producing ethanol for use in most flex-fuel vehicles is to add unleaded gasoline. The most popular blend is called E85, which is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
The production of ethanol as a fuel source began in the 1970s as an additive to extend gasoline. The addition of ethanol has been found to increase the octane number, improve combustion and reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Ethanol has since become a standard component of high-octane gasoline, as well as an alternative fuel for flex-fuel vehicles.
Ethanol is now a major fuel source in many countries. Brazil has produced ethanol from sugar cane to reduce its dependence on imported oil and has become the second leading producer of ethanol. France has begun producing ethanol from grapes of too poor quality to be used for winemaking. Sweden also uses large amounts of ethanol and India has recently started using ethanol as a blending agent in gasoline. Other countries involved in ethanol production include China, Russia, South Africa, the UK, Spain, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Germany, among others.
