Ethanol: it's been a significant part of the news in the past year and you're probably aware that it's associated with corn, but what exactly is it?

The basics
Simply put, ethanol is a renewable alternative fuel made from converted carbon-based feed stocks including corn, sugar cane, sugar beets, barley and switch grass. It can be mixed with gasoline at varying amounts or used in its pure form, also known as E100, though not all vehicles are equipped to run on pure ethanol. Currently ethanol blends are available at most gas stations and are made with smaller amounts of ethanol.

Ethanol is believed by some as a possible solution that may help reduce the use of gasoline and diesel, both common fossil fuels that most standard vehicles run on today.

The process
To convert wheat and corn into ethanol fuel, a hammermill is used to expose the starch of the kernels. It is then mixed with water, cooked for a short time and converted to sugar by adding enzymes, which uses a chemical reaction known as hydrolysis. The sugars are then fermented by adding yeast, and the resulting ethanol is distilled and dehydrated to separate the mixture and remove water.

The controversy
Ethanol is not without its share of opponents who point out that fossil fuels are used in the production of ethanol, thus generating substantial carbon emissions. Ethanol itself is environmentally friendly, as it does not create carbon emissions and simply recycles into plant matter when it is released. It is biodegradable and not considered toxic.

Unfortunately ethanol is also cited as one of the contributing factors to a global food crisis this year, due to its high demand and the subsequent price hike. The U.S. government offered subsidies promoting the use of corn for ethanol and estimates last April indicated approximately one-third of corn crops in the U.S. were being diverted to fuel production rather than being used as food.

The future
Alternative sources are being explored to use in the production of ethanol, including wood, agricultural residue and cellulose. Further development of these alternatives could relieve some of the pressure of using food for the production of ethanol and is therefore considered more sustainable. However some believe the recent filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by ethanol producer VeraSun Energy and the election of Barack Obama as the new U.S. president could shift attention away from ethanol to focus more on solar and wind technology.

» Natural Resources Canada