Ethanol Distillation Facts

Ethanol, the fuel additive produced by using domestically grown plant life such as corn, switch grass and other crops used as feed for stock as well as hardwood and softwood. It is said to be safer for the environment since it replaces the CO2 back in to the atmosphere that is absorbed first by the plant life used to produce it. Ethanol is said to be less costly than gasoline to use and reduces greenhouse gasses as it does not emit the carbon monoxide that gasoline does. It is distilled by turning the starch contained in the plant life or woods being used into sugar, fermented than distilled. Realistically,  there are some distillation facts that should be known.

To begin with, the price of gasoline has become exorbitant and this, in itself, has caused people to begin to think seriously of the possibility of alternative fuel. Today alternative fuel is available at gas stations and in kits safe for use by the do-it-yourselfer or self manufacturer explaining ethanol distillation facts, dangers and hazards. There is a note of caution to those distilling ethanol at home. Extreme caution should be used because the chemicals and processes used for distillation are hazardous and dangerous and known to cause an explosion. The storage of these materials if not professionally handled can cause explosions.  In the long run the final product made this way cannot only be dangerous but will be lacking in quality. Making ethanol at home also requires the person making the product to obtain permits and testing of the final product as well as the expenditure of costs for the materials and taxes involved in the manufacture. The procedure needed to begin and the actual manufacture of the product is complicated and difficult for the average person and should be best left alone.

Before one makes an attempt to manufacture their own ethanol they should check with the Society of Testing and Materials where they will learn about what equipment is needed and the safe way to handle the chemicals used to produce ethanol and about safe storage of the final product. Suggestions made to the individual interested in the manufacture of ethanol are to learn about ethanol distillation facts and procedures. Learn about ethanol by living with it and by using it.

Conversely, in spite of the EPA and Congress mandate for the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, Vera Sun, the Number 2 manufacturer of ethanol has filed for protection of the U.S. bankruptcy Court. For a very long time now ethanol has been touted as the future of alternative fuel but after reviewing some of the ethanol distillation facts one wonders how true this is. Can ethanol save the environment from greenhouse gasses and save the consumer from the high cost of gasoline, or is it just another good intention gone wrong? The only thing we can do at present is to sit back and wait for the end results of this alternative fuel controversy.