Iowa State researchers use fungus to improve corn-to-ethanol process- reduce energy use by 1/3rd.

[JohnWxy]

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2008/may/fungus.shtml


AMES, Iowa -- Growing microscopic fungus in some of the leftovers from ethanol production can save energy, recycle more water and improve the livestock feed that's a co-product of fuel production, according to a team of researchers from Iowa State University and the University of Hawai'i.

"The process could change ethanol production in dry-grind plants so much that energy costs can be reduced by as much as one-third," said Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and the leader of the research project.

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Van Leeuwen said all of that can save United States ethanol producers a lot of energy and money at current production levels:

Eliminating the need to evaporate thin stillage would save ethanol plants up to $800 million a year in energy costs.

Allowing more water recycling would reduce the industry's water consumption by as much as 10 billion gallons per year. And it allows producers to recycle enzymes in the thin stillage, saving about $60 million per year.

Adding value and nutrients to the livestock feed produced by ethanol plants would grow the market for that feed by about $400 million per year.

And the researchers' fungal process would improve the energy balance of ethanol production by reducing energy inputs so there is more of an energy gain.

(a one third reduction of energy inputs would produce an increase in Net ENergy Gain of 50%_JW).

[whistle]

1. Putting anthrax in our tanks now...wow!

[excess_3]

2. better than petroleum from the Middle East .n/t