Production of Bio-ethanol from agricultural feedstock is known as First Generation Bio-fuel. This page will elaborate on the production of Bio-ethanol from corn in the USA and sugarcane in Brazil. This page will go on to further elaborating the sustainability for First Generation Bio-ethanol and its future.
Bio-ethanol from Corn (USA)
There have been two main approaches to manufacturing ethanol from corn. These technologies are known as dry milling and wet milling. The distinction remains useful, despite recent innovations for dry millings process have begun to fill the gap in the methods. Dry mills are cheaper to build, thus reducing investor’s risk. Hence dry mills are often preferred to its wet mills counterpart, small farmer are able to afford own mills at their farm. Corn Kernel is use as feedstock for USA ethanol production. Individual Kernel contains about 70% starch, and starch is the key of producing ethanol.
Bio-ethanol from Sugarcane (Brazil)
Sugarcane processing focuses on the production of cane sugar from sugarcane. Sugarcane is produced and harvest for two reasons. Production of cane sugar and Ethanol; use as seed for subsequent planting.
Brazil is considered having the world’s first sustainable bio-fuel economy and industrial bio-fuel leader. Its sugarcane ethanol is the most successful alternative fuel used to date. Sustaining this 30 year old ethanol fuel program is largely based on its most efficient sugarcane cultivation with agricultural technology in the world. Modern equipment and cheap cultivation resulting in cheap sugarcane feedstock and residual cane waste (basgasse) is used for electricity and heat generation. Eventually leads to the competitive Bio-ethanol price with gasoline and a high energy balance on an average production of 8.3 to the best practices production of 10.2 (output energy / input energy).
Future with First Generation Bio-Ethanol
First Generation Bio-Ethanol has to address problems like:
· Effect on moderation oil prices
· Food Vs Fuel debate
· Carbon Emissions
· Sustainable Fuel production
· Deforestation, Soil Erosion, Impact on water quality
· Human rights issues, Poverty Reduction
· Bio-Ethanol Prices, Energy Balance and Efficiency
Bio-Ethanol production from agricultural feedstock, mark a start of journey of Bio-fuel. Today Bio-Ethanol economy only manages to leave its footprints in Brazil and USA, the two only major producers in the world. First generation of Bio-Ethanol from agricultural feedstock, made from very common crops, sugarcane maize, potato. However there are many considerable debates about how effective is this Bio-Ethanol is in replacing the gasoline market. To date total Bio-fuel market only stands a small percentage of 1.8% of the total world’s transport fuel. The basic feedstock for the production of fuel, enters the animal or human food chain, and this clashes with the rising food demand, this demand for agricultural feedstock has been criticize for diverting food away from the food chain, leading to food shortage and increase in food price. Brazil had successfully proved this assumption wrong, however not all countries had this large amount of arable land, and resource for the cultivation of agro-fuel, more importantly the interest to venture into the production and usage of Bio-fuel. First Generation Bio-Ethanol is still continuing to grow annually, as the development of Second Generation is still under intensive research and modeling.
First Generation will continue to grow in Agricultural based economy. For First Generation to prosper and grow, Agricultural Technology has to continuously develop better genetic modified seeds, to improve output per unit area. Improvement of Processing Technology, provide cleaner production process by reducing waste produce, reduction of energy input for processing Bio-Ethanol. Effective land management is emphasized for First Generation Bio-Ethanol to stay. Designated area used for Bio-Ethanol feedstock production, at no expense of food production and deforestation.
Achieving success of what Brazil had done, it not an impossible task for Agricultural based economy, it requires the government interest in venturing into first generation Bio-Ethanol, the policy must be implemented such as provision of subsidies for purchase of Bio-Ethanol fuel, provide designated area to grow Bio-Ethanol feedstock with processing Industries situated near the feedstock. Introduction of Fuel-Flex vehicles, which is able to run on blend fuels.
One of the major disadvantages Bio-Ethanol holds is the low heating value, which means to run the same distance with Gasoline fuel, Bio-Ethanol will require 1.5 times more of fuel. Also Net Energy Balance (Output / Input) varies, depending on the type feedstock used, environmental conditions of the location of growth and the type of processing method, transportation of fuel.
The future of First Generation Bio-Ethanol will continue to play a part in Bio-fuel. As we know there future will require even more energy than before, depleting amount of Non-Renewable energy emphasize the part that First Generation Bio-Ethanol can play in sustaining the energy security. We cannot depend on one source of energy, renewable energy management will require outsource dependency on different source of energy. Bio-fuel is just another part of Renewable Energy Management, which the reason why we should put more concern in improving these areas.
First Generation Bio-Ethanol Production Process
Receiving, Inspection & Processing
Feedstock is received by rail or truck. Feedstock is inspected, weighed and unloaded. Undesirable material such as rocks, sticks or debris are removed leaving only Feedstock. Corn is pound into powder form and Sugarcane is cut, chopped and squeezed.
Liquefaction & Saccharification
Alpha amylase enzyme is added to breaks down starch in the corn into glucose molecules. The conversion begin with liquefaction, liquefaction is the conversion or starch into sugar through the reaction of Alpha-amylase enzyme along with heat. Sccharification is the introduction of another enzyme, Glucoamylase, into mash. The addition of the new enzyme is to complete the conversion from Starch to fermentable sugar.
Fermentation
Yeast and nutrients (ammonia) are added. Biochemical process known as fermentation begins, the yeast metabolizes the sugar and produces carbon dioxide and ethanol.
Distillation & Co-product
After fermentation has complete, mixture is pumped into distillation column, where heat is applied. Resulting ethanol vapor condensed apart from the mixture of solids and water. Ethanol distilled from the distillation still contains a small percentage of water, approximately 4%, too much to be used as fuel. Therefore ethanol is further separated from the water by a molecular sieve. Co-product from corn can be used as feed. Product from sugarcane can be used for electricity generation.
Denaturing & Distribution
In this phase, petroleum based fuel is added to the Ethanol. This renders the liquid undrinkable, from onsite storage tank, truck and rail car load they are filled with Ethanol and dispatch to Gasoline distribution terminal.
