[Syrupmakers] Ethanol from sorghum/sugar cane

[G Wilson]

Richard 



 I don't know if it is brandy, meade , wine or beer but it sure does taste good after fermenting 48 hours at 75 degrees .  It has to be distilled to become ethanol , sometimes called white lightening.  When it is distilled one time it is 170 proof.   It has to be distilled twice to get all the water out and become 100 percent alcohol so it will mix with gasoline.  !00 percent ethanol doesn't have much kick to it.  In fact 170 proof will give an engine more power than 100 percent.

T C Wilson


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Harrison
Sent: Saturday, January 5, 2008 1:57 PM
To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Ethanol from sorghum/sugar cane

T C,
     Are you talking about brandy ?!!    More seriously--only 48 hours ? Doesn't it have to be distilled to concentrate it for fuel purposes ?
     Also, we DO grow sweet sorghum in the South--even in South Florida. Just not much of it. South Florida could grow maybe 3 or more crops a year.
     As for corn being the crop of choice right now--I think that corn for ethanol is a big mistake. It would actually be much more efficient to incinerate the corn for energy than make ethanol from it for energy use.......
     By the way, does brandy take just 48 hours ?
                                                       Richard

G Wilson <glenarchie at webtv.net> wrote:
    Richard

     I wonder why someone isn't growing sorghum in the south?

     To make ethanol out of sorghum all you have to do is squeeze the juice out of the stalk add yeast and in 48 hours you have ethanol.  
       With corn you have to grind it , then cook it , then add the yeast.

One of the problems with sorghum is that you can't store it.  It has to be processed immediately after it is processed.

T C Wilson
Eureka, Kansas


  
---------------------------------
  From: Richard Harrison
Sent: Saturday, January 5, 2008 8:09 AM
To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Ethanol from sorghum/sugar cane

    T C,
     Sorghum could actually be grown for 2 cropd per season in the deep South--particularly short season varieties which MAY even have 3 crops per season a possibility in some places!
                    Richard

G Wilson <glenarchie at webtv.net> wrote:
    Danny

     I have been interested in ethanol too.  From what I have read corn has a 1.3 to 1 energy conversion rate and would only be feasible with government subsidies where as sorghum has a 16 to 1 conversion rate.  The problem with sorghum is the short harvest season which last 60 to 90 days.

T C Wilson
  
---------------------------------
  From: DCNIBLETT at aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2008 7:05 PM
To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Ethanol from sorghum/sugar cane

      Thanks, Jack. Appreciate your answer on the ethanol question and would to hear other views if any are willing to share them.
   
  Danny Niblett
  Vienna, VA





       
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