What is ethanol?

Ethanol, also called alcohol, is an organic chemical compound produced from biomass. It’s produced by the fermentation of various plants, usually sugar cane or corn. There are many uses for it, but the most important is as bioethanol, a type of biofuel.

Bioethanol is a source of renewable energy, which is most commonly used as a gasoline additive or as a pure fuel. It has a higher octane rating than gasoline and is therefore less prone to explosions because it can tolerate higher compression, resulting in an increase in thermal efficiency.

Fuel is only one of the uses for ethanol. It’s also common to make “potable alcohol” from it. The fermentation of certain plants produces ethanol, which can then be distilled to produce spirits such as vodka or whiskey.

Residues and energy

The production of ethanol produces a byproduct called spent grain. Which is an excellent source of protein and energy and is often dried to make DDGS for animal feed.

Distillation, evaporation and drying are very energy intensive and are the main reason for high operating costs. You can save 30-40% of the energy consumption by drying the solids with steam and reusing the vapors from the dryer in the evaporators.

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