2007-07-15 02:18:22 · 8 answers · asked by Alison S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
ethanol is not produced from oil
It is produced in a fermintation process involving plant matter, usually corn.
2007-07-15 02:22:48 · answer #1 · answered by Staveros 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It takes oil for all the steps and process that produce the ethanol, and it takes a lot of it.
It takes oil to power the tractors that plow the fields that the corn is grown in.
It tales oil to run the irrigation pumps that furnish water to the cornfields.
It takes oil to power the harvesters that remove the corn from the fields.
It takes oil to transport all the corn to the ethanol plants.
It takes oil to power the ethanol plants. (lots of it) The ethanol plants are just "corn refineries."
It takes oil to deliver the ethanol to the filling stations, because ethanol is so corrosive that it cannot be pumped thru a piping distribution system, it must be distributed via railroad tank cars and tanker trucks.
It has been calculated that ethanol costs more to produce, than the power received from it is worth.
Oh, and the government subdises the ethanol producers by paying them $0.51 per gallon produced. That is payed for by our taxes, and how much oil would that buy? This is used to knock $0.51 cents a gallon off the cost at the pump to keep the price competitive with gasoline (oil).
Also there is an import duty on ethanol shipped into this country from south America of $0.50 per gallon to protect the price of ethanol produced here in the states. That also comes out of our taxes, and again, how much oil would that buy.
To top that all off, because the price of corn is twice as much as it used to be, the price of meat, cereal, and everything else that uses corn is increasing. Don't forget to add that in too.
I haven't answered your question, but at least you gave me an opportunity to vent.
2007-07-16 17:47:18 · answer #2 · answered by gatorbait 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does not take gallons of oil to produce ethanol. Ethanol is produced from crops such as corn, switchgrass, sugar cane, etc.. Most of the power used to actually produce the ethanol is linked to actual power plants (mostly coal fired) that produce the steam that in turn is used to run the ethanol plants. Very efficient use of a byproduct. It is not 1-1! Yes it does take fuel to deliver the final product but it takes fuel to deliver the gas that is made from oil.
Sure farmers are happy to be receiving a better price for their crop but truth be told if crop prices had risen with inflation over the last 30 years the prices would be substantially higher. Most people should be happy with the safest and cheapest food in the world.
2007-07-15 05:11:31 · answer #3 · answered by truecowboy86 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Surprise! It takes oil to produce one gallon of gasoline too.
Crude oil must be put inside a giant steam tower and its components float up to certain levels, where the light gasoline ends up near the top, and the asphalt and heavy oils stay at the bottom.
Ethanol production doesn't require nearly as much energy to refine. The main problem is using corn as a source, which isn't preferred since it is also a valuable foodstuff for humans and animals and requires a lot more water to grow than say, wild grasses.
2007-07-15 07:33:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't almost 1 to 1.
Allot of fuel is used to grow and transport the croup used to make it. Then it must be cooked (distilled) into alcohol.
Which takes allot more fuel. Then it has to be refined into ethanol. Since it is a mixture of gas and alcohol, it also takes oil to make the ethanol itself. Finally shipping to the gas stations, takes more fuel.
Not very cost effective. But it might keep the oil industry alive a few more years. It is also making allot of farmers happy.
Corn is not even a very good choice of crop. So why use corn?
2007-07-15 02:34:36 · answer #5 · answered by THEHATEDTRUTH 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Zero.
Ethanol is a vegetable product - not made from oil. You can make ethanol from corn, or sugar cane, or other plants (not sure which ones.)
2007-07-15 02:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
"A study by David Pimentel of Cornell in 2003 found that -- due to tractor fuel, irrigation pumps and other inputs -- ethanol uses 29 percent more energy than it creates. Also, of course, grain prices will rise as cropland is diverted to growing corn for fuel."
Sorry...
2007-07-15 06:53:52 · answer #7 · answered by steve s 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Oil is not changed to Etheline.
2007-07-15 08:14:41 · answer #8 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋