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A common question about ethanol is whether or not it is really made from corn. In most cases, the answer to that question is yes, but it can be made from some other crops too.
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What is Ethanol
Dorrie Ruplinger
Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel that is produced from various renewable sources. In its purest form, ethanol is simply grain alcohol that is produced from various crops including corn. It's also flammable, colorless, and is one of the alcohols commonly found in alcoholic beverages. Since ethanol is easily produced domestically, ethanol can help reduce North America's dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Burning ethanol releases carbon dioxide during its production and combustion. However, the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the crops used to make the ethanol. This makes for a much cleaner environment.
The main reason for ethanol's growing popularity is the ever-growing oil prices. Consumers are getting fed up with paying huge amounts of money for gasoline for their cars. Ethanol is considered by many to be the future of fuel for automobiles.
Last year the United States Senate added a tax credit to the Highway bill to encourage gasoline stations to install or convert pumps that offer E-85 ethanol. E-85 ethanol is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. The other type of ethanol fuel is E-10, which is comprised of 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline. The E-10 type of ethanol is more readily available for consumers. In fact, in 2004 nearly one-third of America's gasoline was blended with ethanol.
E-10 ethanol fuel is covered under warranty by every automaker in the United States. Many tests have been done over the years to see if E-10 ethanol may have a negative affect on a vehicle's engine. These tests have concluded that the use of ethanol does not increase corrosion in any engine. Also, this type of ethanol doesn't affect any seals or valves, thus making ethanol perfectly safe for automotive use.
The E-85 type of ethanol can only be used in flexible fuel vehicles, or "FFVs." There are approximately four million FFVs in the United States, with more being produced and sold every year.
Since ethanol is primarily made with corn, the price of ethanol is directly influenced by seasonal changes. If for any reason the production of corn goes down, the price of ethanol will go up. Also, Ethanol is sold into the gasoline blending market where it competes with other oxygenates and octane components and with gasoline itself. Therefore, ethanol's price is significantly affected by its value to refiners in these markets.
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What is E85
Ethanol & How is it made
Rising gasoline prices have heightened consumer awareness about E85
ethanol. These days, there is much ado about this fuel, and why
shouldn’t there be? After all, it costs close to thirty five percent
less than gasoline and is quickly becoming the preferred choice for
motorists at the pump stations. E85 ethanol is already widely used in
Sweden and pump stations in America, with states like Minnesota and
Illinois having the highest rate of E85 fuel pumps servicing motorists.
What is E 85 Ethanol?
When 15 percent of leaded gasoline is combined with eighty five percent
of ethanol, the result is the low-cost E85 ethanol fuel. Widely
available in the US, it is an alcohol-based fuel that can be produced
from employing the use of two methods. The first source of production
involves the fermenting and distilling of starch-like feedstock. They
include corn, barley, and wheat. The next method, which is referred as
bio-ethanol, involves extraction from trees and grasses.
Although the price of the Ethanol E85 may be foremost on consumer’s
minds, it also gets the nod from earth activists because it is an
environmentally friendly product. It burns clean and its key ingredient
source is renewable. Ethanol E85 also eliminates the import of crude
oil because it is locally produced and is also known for increasing the
octane rating in fuel while decreasing the harmful emissions caused by
gasoline.
Ethanol E85 will run well in flexible fuel vehicles like those
manufactured by Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Isuzu and Nissan
to name a few. But, if you don’t own a vehicle by one of the
above-mentioned manufacturers, you need not fear. Some people are not
aware that many other cars manufactured today are Ethanol E85
compatible. It is best to find out from your car dealer if you have a
flexible fuel vehicle.
How is E85 Ethanol
Made?
The method for producing Ethanol E85 is long and complex. The maker has
to first extract sugar from biological feedstock in order to begin the
process. Corn is the leading ingredient in Ethanol E85 gas. And the
starch in it can easily be converted into sugar. Sugar for this fuel can
also be extracted from cellulose, which is a sugar based ingredient
found in trees and grasses.
Once the feedstock is collected, it goes through a grinding process to
extract the sugar. Sugar fed into microbes quickly produces ethanol and
carbon dioxide, which finally endures purification stages to get the
ethanol to the right consistency.
There is another method of manufacturing Ethanol E85 oil or grain
alcohol, as it is also known, and this is through a wet-milling process.
This is also the method that large-scale manufacturers use when
producing high-fructose corn sweetener.
Ethanol E85 is an innovative and renewable resource with many positive
characteristics, making it one of the leading topics of discussion for
those looking to help the earth and looking to keep a few extra bucks in
their wallet.
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