The world has enjoyed "fizzy" water and beverages for more than 200 years. Now, there is a chance that it will be the savior of the planet by converting carbonated water into ethanol.
Three scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee have accidentally found that a nano tech wafer of one centimeter square applied to water being infused with CO2 will actually achieve the production of ethanol. While some of the CO2 will escape back into the air, they have been able to convert 63% of the gas in the process. More importantly, the voltage needed is as little as 1.2 volts. Thus, a power plant producing carbon dioxide may have that output captured and turned into a usable fuel by simply applying a small fraction of the energy it produces. Also, the wafer that is used in the process is inexpensive. Its made from copper, nitrogen, and carbon.
I guess, this invention by these "Oak Ridge Boys" will go down in history with all the other accidental scientific discoveries such as penicillin and microwave ovens.
References:
Carbonated Water: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonated_water
Nanotech Wafer Turns Carbon Dioxide Into Ethanol: http://www.popsci.com/grain-alcohol-created-from-carbon-dioxide-and-water
Reversing the combustion process to convert CO2 into ethanol: http://newatlas.com/co2-ethanol-nanoparticle-conversion-ornl/45920/
10 Awesome Accidental Discoveries: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/g1216/10-awesome-accidental-discoveries/
Showing posts with label ethanol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ethanol. Show all posts
Friday, March 24, 2017
Friday, April 10, 2015
High Prices: The Beef Over Beef
Americans like hamburgers, but maybe, not so much anymore. The numbers are in and ground beef again, has hit another all-time high of $4.24 a pound in February. That's twice the price of late 2009 when it was selling for $2.19 a pound.
The problem with beef prices is that there is less being produced while the demand is still high.
Until demand falls, or the supply increases, prices will continue to rise. So, theoretically, cattle ranchers should want to increase production to take advantage of this. So why do beef supplies just keep falling? This drop in supply has actually been accelerating since late 2012. In actuality, more cattle farmers are giving up raising cattle because energy and feed prices are increasing too fast. Also, the severe 2014 winter and the drought in the Southwest have taken their toll; but only in the last couple of years. Additionally, some ranches have to be sold off to land developers in order to pay the government its 40% estate tax (death tax). Often a price too high for any of the heirs to pay and still operate the ranch profitably.
The truth is that the tax policies and the cost of fighting climate change are killing the beef market. Feed corn has become more costly due to the increased production of ethanol for fuel. Energy prices -- especially under Obama -- have increased faster than inflation as producers of electricity move to abandon coal ahead of harsh restrictions. The real worry for U.S. beef producers is that high prices in this country may attract an onslaught of imported beef which, in turn, could only further decimate our own beef production.
Lastly, a crustacean alert! Lobster, at just $2.89/lb (in 2013), may quickly replace that Saturday afternoon BBQ'd hamburger.
References:
BLS: Ground Beef Prices: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
US Beef - Bloomberg: Another Year of the Chicken: U.S. Beef Supply Will Fall Again in 2015: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-11-18/us-beef-supply-will-fall-again-in-2015-chicken-demand-will-rise
Ethanol pumping up food prices - USATODAY.com: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-02-09-corn-low_N.htm
Food and Electricity Prices Rise to RECORD HIGH AGAIN!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOHJTijgsY
Cost per pound of lobster: https://www.google.com/search?q=cost+per+pound+of+lobster&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
 |
| Ground Beef Prices - Bureau of Labor Statistics |
The problem with beef prices is that there is less being produced while the demand is still high.
The truth is that the tax policies and the cost of fighting climate change are killing the beef market. Feed corn has become more costly due to the increased production of ethanol for fuel. Energy prices -- especially under Obama -- have increased faster than inflation as producers of electricity move to abandon coal ahead of harsh restrictions. The real worry for U.S. beef producers is that high prices in this country may attract an onslaught of imported beef which, in turn, could only further decimate our own beef production.
Lastly, a crustacean alert! Lobster, at just $2.89/lb (in 2013), may quickly replace that Saturday afternoon BBQ'd hamburger.
References:
BLS: Ground Beef Prices: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
US Beef - Bloomberg: Another Year of the Chicken: U.S. Beef Supply Will Fall Again in 2015: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-11-18/us-beef-supply-will-fall-again-in-2015-chicken-demand-will-rise
Ethanol pumping up food prices - USATODAY.com: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-02-09-corn-low_N.htm
Food and Electricity Prices Rise to RECORD HIGH AGAIN!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOHJTijgsY
Cost per pound of lobster: https://www.google.com/search?q=cost+per+pound+of+lobster&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Monday, August 31, 2009
When Green Is The Color Of Oil
In the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown's government can certainly be said to be "green" leaning. Just like Obama, Brown plans big spending on green projects as a means to economic recovery.
So, why are these two, Obama and Brown, so interested in the not-so-green participation in drilling for oil?
Just recently, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (a separate agency of the United States Government that reports directly to Obama) issued a $10 billion line of credit to the Brazilian national oil company, Petrobas, to facilitate both expanded and new off-shore drilling operations in Brazil (Click to See Full Story).
In the case of the "slithering" Brown, his government negotiated the release of the Pan Am/Lockerbie bomber so that the United Kingdom could get a piece of any new oil production in Libya (Click to See Full: "Secret documents uncover UK's interest in Libyan oil Story").
I guess oil is a "green thing" when it can be extracted by some other country and not done at home. That kind of thinking is often called NIMBY or Not In My Back Yard; but, it hardly does anything for the overall improvement of the world's environment.
Both these hypocrites talk the "green" talk but really understand that oil will be needed by us all for a very long time. They both want to make sure their countries have plenty of oil in the future because both these fools know that oil is absolutely essential to the national security of both their nations.
Does anyone think that wheeling and dealing for foreign oil production sounds like Obama is serious about getting America off imported oil?
As I have said before in this blog" 10 years from now we will be even more dependent on foreign oil than we are today. Our production is going down while our demand is rising and will continue to rise. Wind and solar are never going to counteract that reality. The only thing wind or solar will do is eat into our own natural gas and coal production and won't save a drop of imported oil.
Lastly, I find Brazil's need to drill for oil the most interesting of the above deals. Three years ago, as oil prices kept rising, Brazil was being held up as the shining example of a country that was able to get off their dependency on oil. That's because they had diverted the majority of their sugar production into the production of ethanol. Now, there is an impending shortage of sugar and the world's economic situation has forced oil to come down in price. In effect, sugar prices are going through the roof and Brazil is stuck with a very expensive option for their country's auto fuel source. Where's all the left-wing news headlines on that one?
(Click Here To See a 'Typical' News Story on Brazil's Ethanol Success from 2006: "Brazil hopes to build on its ethanol success" )
So, why are these two, Obama and Brown, so interested in the not-so-green participation in drilling for oil?
Just recently, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (a separate agency of the United States Government that reports directly to Obama) issued a $10 billion line of credit to the Brazilian national oil company, Petrobas, to facilitate both expanded and new off-shore drilling operations in Brazil (Click to See Full Story).
In the case of the "slithering" Brown, his government negotiated the release of the Pan Am/Lockerbie bomber so that the United Kingdom could get a piece of any new oil production in Libya (Click to See Full: "Secret documents uncover UK's interest in Libyan oil Story").
I guess oil is a "green thing" when it can be extracted by some other country and not done at home. That kind of thinking is often called NIMBY or Not In My Back Yard; but, it hardly does anything for the overall improvement of the world's environment.
Both these hypocrites talk the "green" talk but really understand that oil will be needed by us all for a very long time. They both want to make sure their countries have plenty of oil in the future because both these fools know that oil is absolutely essential to the national security of both their nations.
Does anyone think that wheeling and dealing for foreign oil production sounds like Obama is serious about getting America off imported oil?
As I have said before in this blog" 10 years from now we will be even more dependent on foreign oil than we are today. Our production is going down while our demand is rising and will continue to rise. Wind and solar are never going to counteract that reality. The only thing wind or solar will do is eat into our own natural gas and coal production and won't save a drop of imported oil.
Lastly, I find Brazil's need to drill for oil the most interesting of the above deals. Three years ago, as oil prices kept rising, Brazil was being held up as the shining example of a country that was able to get off their dependency on oil. That's because they had diverted the majority of their sugar production into the production of ethanol. Now, there is an impending shortage of sugar and the world's economic situation has forced oil to come down in price. In effect, sugar prices are going through the roof and Brazil is stuck with a very expensive option for their country's auto fuel source. Where's all the left-wing news headlines on that one?
(Click Here To See a 'Typical' News Story on Brazil's Ethanol Success from 2006: "Brazil hopes to build on its ethanol success" )
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Is Jatropha in our Energy Future?
Trucks use diesel fuel because the density of diesel and its subsequent power output is greater than gasoline. In a nutshell, a diesel engine is better suited to "hauling" heavy loads.
Ethanol doesn't really do anything for diesel trucks and cars. Ethanol is also driving fuel prices up as food crops are diverted to make energy. And, diesel fuel is going through the roof because there haven't been any cheaper alternatives, like ethanol, that can be mixed with it to somewhat keep costs down. But, now there is hope in a toxic, non-food, drought-tolerant plant called jatropha.
Jatrapha's big promise as a sustainable biofuel is in its beans. 40 percent of every jatropha bean has the oil needed to make a biofuel. 20 pounds of those beans can produce one gallon of diesel. It takes 22 pounds of corn to produce one gallon of ethanol; and the process to make ethanol from corn is more involved and energy wasteful than to make diesel from jatropha beans. More importantly, you can produce 4 times as much fuel per acre in a single growing season as you can with corn. Another key factor is the fact that the plants are drought tolerant and don't need high quality soils in order to grow. Obviously, GM (genetic modification) should be able to increase these plants yields well beyond today's currently unbelievable yields.
Jatropha is well on its way as a core biofuel in countries like India and the Philippines. In America, at least when it comes to politics, corn (and the "votes" from corn-based economies in our States) is king. So, little is being said about Jatropha. Much of the experimentation that is going on is being done by farmers in Florida; without Federal support. It is too bad that politics (and voting blocks) have to always get in the way of what's good for our country.
Of course, another dirty little secret in this country is that "all" biofuels are just another dirty form of hydrocarbon fuels. They will pump out as much carbon dioxide and feed into Global Warming as any other carbon-based fuel. The "greens" in this country don't really want more CO2 emitting fuels. So, don't expect the Democrats to go hog wild over any jatropha funding. To the greens, energy independence doesn't mean independence from foreign fuels. Instead it means a society free of energy. They just as soon block a wind farm as they would block any refinery for oil, or ethanol, or jatropha. Deep down inside, they would prefer we all be naked; living in huts; and, foraging for food stocks from plants (And, for sure, not animals!). You know... being "one" with nature! After all, Mother Nature didn't make SUVs!
Ethanol doesn't really do anything for diesel trucks and cars. Ethanol is also driving fuel prices up as food crops are diverted to make energy. And, diesel fuel is going through the roof because there haven't been any cheaper alternatives, like ethanol, that can be mixed with it to somewhat keep costs down. But, now there is hope in a toxic, non-food, drought-tolerant plant called jatropha.
Jatrapha's big promise as a sustainable biofuel is in its beans. 40 percent of every jatropha bean has the oil needed to make a biofuel. 20 pounds of those beans can produce one gallon of diesel. It takes 22 pounds of corn to produce one gallon of ethanol; and the process to make ethanol from corn is more involved and energy wasteful than to make diesel from jatropha beans. More importantly, you can produce 4 times as much fuel per acre in a single growing season as you can with corn. Another key factor is the fact that the plants are drought tolerant and don't need high quality soils in order to grow. Obviously, GM (genetic modification) should be able to increase these plants yields well beyond today's currently unbelievable yields.
Jatropha is well on its way as a core biofuel in countries like India and the Philippines. In America, at least when it comes to politics, corn (and the "votes" from corn-based economies in our States) is king. So, little is being said about Jatropha. Much of the experimentation that is going on is being done by farmers in Florida; without Federal support. It is too bad that politics (and voting blocks) have to always get in the way of what's good for our country.
Of course, another dirty little secret in this country is that "all" biofuels are just another dirty form of hydrocarbon fuels. They will pump out as much carbon dioxide and feed into Global Warming as any other carbon-based fuel. The "greens" in this country don't really want more CO2 emitting fuels. So, don't expect the Democrats to go hog wild over any jatropha funding. To the greens, energy independence doesn't mean independence from foreign fuels. Instead it means a society free of energy. They just as soon block a wind farm as they would block any refinery for oil, or ethanol, or jatropha. Deep down inside, they would prefer we all be naked; living in huts; and, foraging for food stocks from plants (And, for sure, not animals!). You know... being "one" with nature! After all, Mother Nature didn't make SUVs!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Brazil's "Dirty" Little Energy Secret
I know you've probably heard it: "If Brazil can do it, why can't we?"
That kind of comment is about the fact that Brazil has "grown" itself out of its requirement of any foreign oil. It has done this by switching to ethanol that is derived from their own, home-grown sugar cane crops. But is it true? If you listen to those anti-oil partisans in this country, you would think Brazil has "no more need" for oil in their country. If true, would someone explain to me why their partly state run oil company just let $4.1 billion contract to build 3 offshore oil platforms to get more "oil" for their economy (See Full Story).
The fact is that Brazil compliments its own oil production with ethanol. Their cars run on E85. E85 doesn't mean that all their cars are running completely off of ethanol; only 85 percent of the the fuel is and "can be" ethanol. The remainder is oil. So, they still need to drill. That's the "dirty" little secret on Brazilian energy that nobody in this country wants to admit.
In this country, even if we completely converted all of own corn crops to ethanol production, we would only replace about 15 percent of the gasoline we use today. Additionally, We would be maxed-out on ethanol from corn; even though our fuel requirements would continue to grow as our population grew. Of course, that would leave us (and much of the world) "without" any corn as human and animal feed and bi-products such as corn oil and starch for cooking and some environmentally attractive plastic products.
The United States is not Brazil and, for those people like Bill O'Reilly (on Fox Cable Ness) and several politicians, we cannot grow ourselves out of oil. To understand this, you must understand that Brazil is uniquely suited as a major agricultural country in this hemisphere. First, Brazil is nearly as large as the contiguous 48 states of the United States. It has half the population of the United States and 5 times the available agricultural land than the United States. Except for the semiarid regions in the north, they have 10 times the amount of water resources than we do in the support of their agriculture. Because of temperate winters in their farming areas, they have a longer and warmer growing season. But, most importantly, they have the near tropical conditions that allow them to grow sugar cane which is more easily (more cheaply) and more effectively converted to ethanol.
Our push for ethanol has just resulted in record high corn prices in this country. Brazil has excess ethanol production and would gladly export it to the United States but our Congress, in an effort to protect higher-and-higher corn prices for our domestic farmers, has seen fit to impose tariffs on any imported ethanol. This is literally killing the poor by creating high food prices and higher energy prices. (I guess the farmer's votes for the Democrats are more important than food and fuel for our citizens!)
Whether we like it or not, we need to develop parallel energy paths to rid ourselves of our energy problem. We need to explore and develop new oil for the 145 million cars we have on our roads today that are designed to run on gasoline and which will be on the road for, at least, an average of 9 years. At the same time, we can develop new technologies that will get us away from oil. Further, we should begin importing ethanol from Brazil so that our food prices in this country don't continue to get out of the reach of the poor.
That kind of comment is about the fact that Brazil has "grown" itself out of its requirement of any foreign oil. It has done this by switching to ethanol that is derived from their own, home-grown sugar cane crops. But is it true? If you listen to those anti-oil partisans in this country, you would think Brazil has "no more need" for oil in their country. If true, would someone explain to me why their partly state run oil company just let $4.1 billion contract to build 3 offshore oil platforms to get more "oil" for their economy (See Full Story).
The fact is that Brazil compliments its own oil production with ethanol. Their cars run on E85. E85 doesn't mean that all their cars are running completely off of ethanol; only 85 percent of the the fuel is and "can be" ethanol. The remainder is oil. So, they still need to drill. That's the "dirty" little secret on Brazilian energy that nobody in this country wants to admit.
In this country, even if we completely converted all of own corn crops to ethanol production, we would only replace about 15 percent of the gasoline we use today. Additionally, We would be maxed-out on ethanol from corn; even though our fuel requirements would continue to grow as our population grew. Of course, that would leave us (and much of the world) "without" any corn as human and animal feed and bi-products such as corn oil and starch for cooking and some environmentally attractive plastic products.
The United States is not Brazil and, for those people like Bill O'Reilly (on Fox Cable Ness) and several politicians, we cannot grow ourselves out of oil. To understand this, you must understand that Brazil is uniquely suited as a major agricultural country in this hemisphere. First, Brazil is nearly as large as the contiguous 48 states of the United States. It has half the population of the United States and 5 times the available agricultural land than the United States. Except for the semiarid regions in the north, they have 10 times the amount of water resources than we do in the support of their agriculture. Because of temperate winters in their farming areas, they have a longer and warmer growing season. But, most importantly, they have the near tropical conditions that allow them to grow sugar cane which is more easily (more cheaply) and more effectively converted to ethanol.
Our push for ethanol has just resulted in record high corn prices in this country. Brazil has excess ethanol production and would gladly export it to the United States but our Congress, in an effort to protect higher-and-higher corn prices for our domestic farmers, has seen fit to impose tariffs on any imported ethanol. This is literally killing the poor by creating high food prices and higher energy prices. (I guess the farmer's votes for the Democrats are more important than food and fuel for our citizens!)
Whether we like it or not, we need to develop parallel energy paths to rid ourselves of our energy problem. We need to explore and develop new oil for the 145 million cars we have on our roads today that are designed to run on gasoline and which will be on the road for, at least, an average of 9 years. At the same time, we can develop new technologies that will get us away from oil. Further, we should begin importing ethanol from Brazil so that our food prices in this country don't continue to get out of the reach of the poor.
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