An Inquiry Into the An Inquiry Into the Nature and the Nature and the

Cause of Cause of Alternative Alternative Energy SourcesEnergy Sources

Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love switch grass as an alternative fuel source

Until I realized that someone else was doing switch grass…in which case…

ENTER: ENTER: MiscanthusMiscanthus

A A MiscanthusMiscanthus Based Based SystemSystem

Tall perennial grass – 10-14 ft.Tall perennial grass – 10-14 ft.

Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid breakdownbreakdown

Ethanol used in gasoline blends in Ethanol used in gasoline blends in automobilesautomobiles

H2SO4 aq.C6H12O6

glucose

yeast C2H5OH(aq.)

A A MiscanthusMiscanthus Based Based SystemSystem

Use Midwest’s agricultural transport Use Midwest’s agricultural transport infrastructureinfrastructure

1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year

crop-rotation cyclecrop-rotation cycle

Masher Pu

mp

1. Cellulose rich material and water are combined to create a slurry. Process depending, temperatures can be raised up to 200°C

2. A strong acid is added to the mixture, breaking up the cellulose molecules by hydrolysis

3. A series of reactors and separators break down the cellulose and separate out nonsalable materials

4. Waste products can be recovered or used as a heat source for other parts of the process

5. Fermentation converts the aqueous glucose molecules to ethanol

6. A flash unit and/or a distillation column can be used to separate the ethanol from the water

CELLULOSE

WATER

ACID

ETHANOL

The Processing of Cellulose into Ethanol

How much can you get?How much can you get? Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can

achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year.achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year.

Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle which means longer growing seasons and a which means longer growing seasons and a larger range of places to grow it.larger range of places to grow it.

Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose per unit mass, which means more ethanol per unit mass, which means more ethanol production after fermentation.production after fermentation.

Is it worth it?Is it worth it? Potentially reduce greenhouse gas Potentially reduce greenhouse gas

emissions by 70-90% per car mile emissions by 70-90% per car mile traveledtraveled

Energy output-input ratio ~1.6Energy output-input ratio ~1.6

Large capital startup costs – not known Large capital startup costs – not known full cost of commercial productionfull cost of commercial production

Good for the environment!Good for the environment!

Comparison to Current Comparison to Current TechnologyTechnology

140 Billion gal of gasoline used per year in U.S.

To reduce that by 10% using E85, would require 21 Billion gallons of ethanol from cellulose

Need 42 million acres or 66,000 sq. mi of Miscanthus plants ~ the size of Oklahoma!

Miscanthus = Miss Miscanthus = Miss Kansas?Kansas?

Miss Kansas Miscanthus Production

1. Energy from the sun is stored by plants in the form of Glucose which is in turn stored as starch or cellulose - miscanthus is cellulose rich

2. Miscanthus can be harvested, baled, and processed, removing moisture to allow further utilization

3. Chopped up miscanthus can be burned outright or treated to create cellulosic ethanol

ReferencesReferences Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S.

Department of Energy Department of Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/

National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/thermochemical_convershttp://www.nrel.gov/biomass/thermochemical_conversion.htmlion.html

Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience with a Novel Energy Crop with a Novel Energy Crop http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/reports/miscanthus/toc.htmlhttp://bioenergy.ornl.gov/reports/miscanthus/toc.html

Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. http://www.bluefireethanol.comhttp://www.bluefireethanol.com

Arkenol, Inc. www.arkenol.com Arkenol, Inc. www.arkenol.com Miscanthus Research Project at the University of Miscanthus Research Project at the University of

Illinois http://www.miscanthus.uiuc.edu/Illinois http://www.miscanthus.uiuc.edu/