[TheForge] OT biodiesel

[Bruce Freeman]

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is produced from fermentable materials, mainly sugar or starch converted biologically to sugar.

Methyl alcohol, or methanol, is produced by destructive distillation of wood and other cellulose or starch.  Any dried plant material could be used to produce methanol.  The by-product is charcoal.

The latter is toxic, the former is not.  Both burn cleanly as fuel, ethanol being the higher BTU of the two.

A third possibility is chemicaly hydrolysis of cellulose to sugars, followed by fermentation of the sugars.

I do not know about the practicality of these, relative to each other.

Bruce
NJ

>>> phlip at 99main.com 5/26/2005 1:37:46 AM >>>

OK, I've been watching this thread, and I have a question- not up on
alternative fuels, so forgive me if I ask a stupid question.

With alcohol-based fuel, I noticed that the big crop is corn, and that's
what's discussed, as a crop to provide the basis for the alcohol. There are
pros and cons, basicly relating to what gorn does to the soil, etc.

Why?

Last I checked, any vegetable matter can be converted into one of the
alcohols, between yeasty beasties and disillation. Why not convert hay, or
Ghod help us, you over-run Southerners, kudzu?

I realize that the alcohol made  from "wood" and other substances isn't
potable, but if we're not going to drink it, but, rather, put it in our
cars, I can't see that it matters. Is there something in the non-potable
alcohol which makes the by-products of burning it as dangerous as  the
by-products of petroleim fuels?

Can someone educate me? Bruce?

Saint Phlip,
CoD

"When in doubt, heat it up and hit it with a hammer."
 Blacksmith's credo.

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a
cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....

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