Alternative Fuel Using Corn to Produce Ethanol

Diminishing Supplies of Fossil Fuels Estimated reserve of fossil fuels 70 – 105 years of fossil fuel reserves This includes crude oil, natural gas and coal.

Ethanol vs. Gasoline as a fuel Heat of combustion of Ethanol kJ/mol, kJ/mL Heat of combustion of Gasoline kJ/mol, kJ/mL Approximately 29% less energy in Ethanol

Ethanol as a fuel additive Replacing MTBE Can be used as an oxygenate instead of MTBE, which can pollute soil and ground water MTBE as an additive reduces engine knocking by increasing oxygen and allowing for more complete combustion of gasoline E85 gasoline 1 out of every 40 cars and trucks currently on the road are capable of using a mixture of 85% Ethanol and 15% gasoline

Making Ethanol Converting starches to sugar Enzymes break down cellulose and starches in to glucose

Fermentation The glucose is then fermented producing ethanol

Ethanol production process

Effects on the Economy Costs of producing Ethanol Prices of other corn related products to rise As the demand for corn increases due to ethanol other corn related products such as fuel will also increase in price Farming costs Current farming techniques require the heavy use of fossil fuels. Because of this many researchers believe that producing ethanol from corn requires more energy than it produces Government subsidies Between 1995 – 2003 the USDA contributed 37.4 billion dollars in corn subsidies Total production of Ethanol possible 12 billion liters of Ethanol produced in the US in 2004

Effects on the Environment Fertilizers needed to grow corn can be harmful for the environment. These fertilizers also require significant amounts of energy to produce Other possible ethanol crops: Sugar Cane and Switchgrass

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