About Ethanol

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is the base of many products you use everyday. Simply put, it is pure alcohol that makes up anything from spirits to fuel. Ethanol is produced when a starch, most commonly corn, is fermented.

How is Ethanol made?

The fermentation process requires the starch to be ground into a mealy mash. From there, this mash is cooked at high temperatures to reduce bacteria levels. Next the mash is cooled and yeast is added-this is where the sugar transforms into ethanol and CO2.

After around 40 to 50 hours, the fermentation process is complete. The distillation process then separates the ethanol from the residual “stillage”. At this point, the ethanol is 190 proof, but through dehydration it reaches 200 proof. Now it is the proper form to be made into gasoline.

But the uses do not end there. The “stillage” created in earlier steps can also be used. Using a centrifuge, the “stillage” is separated into coarse grain and solubles. The solubles are concentrated to around 30% solids, creating Condensed Distillers Solubles (CDS) or “syrup”. The syrup is dried and made into a high quality livestock feed.

The CO2 released during the fermentation process can be captured and sold for use in carbonated soft drinks and the manufacturing of dry ice.

Benefits of Ethanol

Ethanol used in any of its many forms utilizes American labor and American product. Instead of relying on foreign oil sources, ethanol offers a product farmed and made here in the United States.

Ethanol not only has positive effects on the economy, but it also helps the environment. The base ingredient in ethanol, namely a starch like corn, can be produced over and over again. This means ethanol is renewable. Ethanol-fueled vehicles also have been shown to produce lower carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions. Whether your car can use E85 fuel or just a mix of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol, the presence of ethanol reduces emissions.