Browse > Home / Research / New breakthrough on ethanol thin stillage promises savings of up to $800 million on energy and 10 billion gallons of water

New breakthrough on ethanol thin stillage promises savings of up to $800 million on energy and 10 billion gallons of water

May 28, 2008

In Iowa, researchers have developed a fungi-based process that could could save the ethanol industry up to $800 million in energy costs and $10 billion gallons per year in water usage. The process adds fungi to a byproduct known as “thin stillage” that allows the water content to be recycled. Previously, 50 percent of thin stillage was evaporated, primarily using natural gas. The researchers said that a 100 Mgy ethanol plant would invest $11 million to install the process but would see payback in six months.

  • Mascoma co-founder repots breakthrough in fermentation: new microbe tolerates more heat, requires less enzymes, produces ethanol only
    • In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Mascoma co-founder Lee Lynd reports that a genetically-engineered bacterium, called ALK2, makes only ethanol as an organic product of fermentatio...
  • Historic Mt. Washington Cog Railway converts to biodiesel, saves 1,000 tons of coal and 1.1 million gallons of water
    • In New Hampshire, the 139-yearold historic Mount Washington Cog Railway has converted from coal and wood to biodiesel. The biodiesel train will replace the previous coal locomotive., which burned 1 to...
  • Beer vs Fuel: Kansas officials say one barrel of beer takes as much water to produce as 1500 gallons of ethanol
    • In Kansas, a designer of ethanol plants told the state basin advisory committee that 3 to 4 gallons of water were required for each gallon of ethanol fuel produced, but ethanol supporters added that i...
  • Senator Alexander highlights benefits of the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative; Grassoline promises Tennessee boom
    • In Tennessee, Senator Lamar Alexander highlighted the benefits of the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, a partnership between the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Sen. Alexander...
  • Today in Biofuels Opinion: “ethanol in 2007 reduced oil imports by 228 million barrels, saving $16 billion of taxpayer dollars”.
    • From the Renewable Fuels Association: "The production and use of 6.5 billion gallons of domestic ethanol in 2007 reduced oil imports by 228 million barrels, saving $16 billion of taxpayer dollars. The...
  • US Energy Bill to mandate 20.5 billion gallons of ethanol by 2015; includes biodiesel mandate for first time
    • In Washington, details continued to emerge regarding the imminent Energy Bill. According to reports, the proposed legislation would mandate the use of 20.5 billion gallons of biofuels by 2015, includi...

    Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Research 

    Comments

    Got something to say?

    You must be logged in to post a comment.