Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Sqrtimfcir 25, 1982-Al7
Publications explain
ethanol
NEWARK, Del.-Not
too long ago it was easy
to spot fuel pumps
selling “gasohol,” a
mixture of gasoline and
ethanol alcohol distilled
from grains. The pumps
usually pictured a fat
ear of corn.
Those specially
marked pumps have
almost disappeared, but
ethanol is still being
used as a petroleum
extender and octane
enhancer, says
University of Delaware
Extension agricultural
engineer Tom Williams.
Major gasoline
producers are selling
premium unleaded
gasoline that is 10
percent ethanol.
Williams says area
fanners should consider
ethanol as an alter
native market for their
com. This would not
interfere. with food
production, he says,
since com surpluses
exist, and since ethanol
can even be made from
spoiled crops.
One bushel of com
yields 2.6 gallons of
ethanol under well
managed conditions.
The UJ3. can generate
enough surplus grain to
provide ' 8.5 billion
gallons of ethanol each
year, Williams says.
That’s equivalent to
about eight percent.of
oar nation’s total
gasoline use at current
consumption levels.
Ethanol can reduce
< our dependence on
. foreign oil. And unlike
oil, it is a renewable
resource.
Williams does not
advocate on-farm
ethanol production for
most fanners, because
' the last step in the
production process,
removing water from
the alcohol, is im
practical on a small
scale. However, far
mers may want to
consider selling part of
their crop to a com
mercial distiller.
A publication entitled
Facte About Enthanol is
available from the
USDA National
'Agricultural Library,
Room 111, Beltsville,
MD 20725. The
publication is free while
supplies last.
In addition, a free
publication explaining
ethanol -production is
available from Ex
tension agricultural
engineer Torn Williams,
Agricultural Hall,
University of Delaware,
Newark, DE19711.
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