From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Wed Sep 04 2002 - 17:37:03 EDT
>The total fossil energy expended to produce 1 liter of ethanol from
>corn is 10,200 kcal, but note that 1 liter of ethanol has an energy
>value of only 5130 kcal....Just performing a chemical reaction
>doesn't mean it is useful, economical, or viable.<
Oscar Campbell and many of his neighbors found the production of
ethanol from corn to be a very lucrative business in the 1920's and
1930's, with some production continuing to the present. Fossil fuels
were not significantly used in the production. However, the
distribution of moonshine to distant markets probably used more
fossil fuel than could have been replaced by using the ethanol as
fuel. In addition, paying taxes and finding environmentally
responsible ways to dispose of the waste would cut into the profit
margin.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Wed Sep 04 2002 - 19:58:49 EDT