Looking into Ethanol for fuel in NY

[xalu]

Hi there,

I wanted to introduce my self. I am looking into using left over scraps and organic material to produce ethanol. I have made beer and wine so I know all the mashing steps.

I am looking now into building a good still to get me as close to 200 proof as I can, as cheaply as possible

Been doing a bit of research but am still just starting out. I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what kind of costs I should look at for getting started? Also, buying versus building? Is there plans on this site?

What would you recommend for cheap high proof alcohol recipes? What kind of size tanks(boil/ferment and the still tank) should I look at if I want to end up with 5-10 gallons per batch? I was guessing I can get 20% alcohol at best so for 5 gallons I would need 25 - 50 gallon system?

I would be happy if I get 5 gallons per batch..but I am working with a small indoor garage like area. I do have some hight.

I know this site is mostly about drinking alcohol...but you guys are the experts so I am all ears. I'll be browsing around..

Think I can build something to start out for under $200?

[Dnderhead]

not nowhere near a EXSPERT a ex is a has been and a spert is little more than a drip.
but why dont you read over , it is a start,http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=5

[Braz]

My own personal opinion is that producing fuel alcohol on a hobby level is a loosing proposition. I think it might even be a loosing proposition on a commercial level. There must be a reason there are government subsidies to the ethanol fuel industry.

You are targeting 20% from your mash. That will be hard to get. You might make it using turbo yeasts but a lot is going to depend on the mash. You'll need something very high in sugar content - like sugar - and that's going to get expensive. I don't think you can get there with table/garden scraps.

Then there's the distilling. In order to get 95% (about as good as it gets in the real world) you'll need a good reflux still. There are plans and build threads on the site. Problem is, in order to pull 95% you need to run pretty slow and that means you'll be burning propane or electricity for a lot of hours to get a couple gallons of "high test." As an example, I run a 2" Bokakob design slant plate reflux still. I strip my washes first in a pot still and then charge my reflux still with 8-9 gallons of ~30-40% low wines. 12-14 hours later I have turned 9 gallons of low wines into 2 gallons of 94% ethanol. That is a lot of time/work/propane to get two gallons of fuel.

[rad14701]

Greetings, xalu...

Your guesstimate of getting 20% is a bit unrealistic... The only way to even get close to a 20% wash is by using turbo yeast, which is a costly option... And you won't end up with 20% of your wash being 95% (190 proof) fuel ethanol... Roughly 10% from a lower %ABV wash would be more realistic - half what you are hoping for...

Now that you're here, do plenty of research because making enough ethanol to be worthwhile can be a full time job... And, as you will discover, if you can't get the raw materials virtually free you won't be able to make ethanol cheaper than you can buy gasoline... And then there is the rarely discussed fact that ethanol yields lower MPG than gasoline so you will need to make roughly 25% more than you were planning on burning based on gasoline MPG... It's a go big or go home endeavor...

Good luck...

[xalu]

Thanks guys. Exactly why I figured I would ask.

I'll read around some more and go from there.