2006-06-20 09:41:56 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
Ethanol, whether it is created from sugarcane or corn, is the same substance, 100% alcohol. The main thing to know is that it makes sense to use local crops in the manufacturing process. If you live in Iowa, use corn, if you live in Brazil, use sugarcane. The people in Florida are looking at using peels from citrus fruits. Folks in Kansas use milo (sorghum). Eventually, other raw materials such as switchgrass and corn stalks may be used when the technology catches up.
2006-06-20 11:01:44 · answer #1 · answered by clairecelsi01 1 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Per Pound of plant matter, sugarcane wins an easy first. HOWEVER, sugarcane can be grown only in very wet tropical environments. Corn (maize), by comparison, can be grown almost anywhere.
The fact is ethanol can be made from any starch or sugar source. Processed sugar would be the fasted of course and cellulose (plant stalks) would be the toughest. If we could work up a way to easily process cellulose we could use almost anything from wood chip to lawn cuttings to make ethanol. It is merely a question of someone investing enough time and money to develop the technology. Someone like a US president truly interested in solving the energy needs of the world.
2006-06-20 19:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sugarcane is better, even though corn is more often used. It takes less energy to make ethanol from sugarcane than from corn.
2006-06-20 16:44:21 · answer #3 · answered by PermDude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sugarcane, but it doesn't grow in most of the US very well. Solutions such as corn and cellulose are much better for US's geography.
2006-06-24 00:27:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Corn is faster to grow, and easier to handle. I'm looking at a never ending field of it right now.
2006-06-20 19:03:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The process is what renders it. Ethanol can come from many different plants, but saw grass is considered one of the best sources and easy to process.
2006-06-20 16:47:39 · answer #6 · answered by chemical_kenny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's about the same. However, it's easier and faster to grow corn.
2006-06-20 16:46:33 · answer #7 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
corn
2006-06-20 16:45:03 · answer #8 · answered by carol l 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
corn
2006-06-20 16:43:34 · answer #9 · answered by Joe The Great One 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ethanol is ethanol, it doesn't matter what you start with, the end result must have the same chemical composition so they are the same.
2006-06-20 16:44:52 · answer #10 · answered by Eli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋