The blogs here talk about the price of gas or the use of alternative fuels and methods to save money. I thought I would bring one of my books I did a review on to here. I think the book is perfect to discuss. This book is by Prairie Oak Publshing out of Missouri. Two brothers wrote this book called Sustainable Ethanol. Their names are Jeffrey and Adrian Goettemoeller.
This book goes beyond what we see in the headlines and shows both the limitations and benefits of North America's ethanol industry. The production of ethanol and its use are slowly becoming more efficient which also cuts down reliance of fossil fuel imputs. The days of oil that is cheap is opening gaps for biofuel. There are some exhisting cars get better fuel with just only 10% ethanol compared to without ethanol in the blend. Our next generation of hybrids and flex fuel can become more optimised to get more fuel economy on ethanol. The use of sustainable farming reduces the reliance of ethanol reliance on use of fossil fuels improve the total energy balance. ALso this book coveres fact that NOrth america can produce large quantities of these biofuels without hurting food supply.
Waste materials and soil restoring perenial crops can produce Cellulosic ethanol.
One of the facts according to back cover Jeffrey is a plant scientist and Adrian is a geologist.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
The cost of food at the grocery has increased due to biofuels by, if I remember correctly, <10%.
Iowa, the corn capital of the US, is under water. So is the Missouri. The cost of E-85 is going to exceed diesel.
Very shortly, I think that ethanol will not be as effective as a fuel.
-acertainsaint-
I am considering discussing this book chapter by chapter
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.
Ethanol is and can be made from waste. I think it could be also made from sugar beets which could be grown by poor nations. This would give them income to pay off loans etc.
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.
Ethanol is made from, widely speaking, corn and sugar cane. The US uses Corn almost (I cannot be 100% positive) exclusively and in 2007 out-produced Brazil (which uses almost exclusively Sugar Cane); the US produced 6498.6 million gallons of ethanol with Brazil producing 5019.2 million gallons. http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/statistics/#E
As for sugar beets being used to produce ethanol in an amount equal to (or surpassing) corn is still theorhetical.
Provide sources to the contrary and I'll be willing to give your argument a second thought.
-acertainsaint-
I disagree. Yeast has a waste product that can make ethanol.
http://seedmagazine.com/news/2006/06/gm_yeast_turn_waste_into_ethan.php
I think you should check that site. I think there are others out there on how to make a biofuel. Please check again. This is not spam nor is my blog. I looked up the information on the internet.
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.
The entireity of that argument hindges on:
A) The GM yeast being mass produced so as to have enough biomass to produce a significant amount of ethanol.
B) People allowing the GM yeast to be used to drive ethanol production. There are enough people out there that hate the idea that scientists have "played god" to put a stop to this in the US.
C) That the ethanol is of equal or better quality to foodstock based ethanol.
and
D) That the yeast is actually put to use.
Yes, people are trying to use other parts of the plant so as to prevent foodstock usage but they're still not being used. Waste is not being used to produce ethanol. It has the potential due to a series of tests that scientists in Europe are doing.
The yeast is only starting to be able to do the pentose fementations. The article ends in van Morris stating that this method, in his opinion, could be put into major production within 5 years. Thus, if van Morris is correct, "ethanol is made from plant waste" will be a correct statement.
I'm studying to be a Chemist. Yeah, Biochem isn't my exact major, but I've had to take enough Science classes to know that you shouldn't count your eggs before the chickens lay them.
Also, the waste product of the yeast doesn't make the ethanol. The waste product is ethanol. They're basically making beer and using the ethanol as a fuel source.
-acertainsaint-