How to Make Ethanol

As the price of gasoline continues to rise, more people are searching for alternative fuel sources. With the advent of E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles, one option is to make your own ethanol. You will need a permit and a makeshift still before you start. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Corn
• Alpha amylase
• Glucoamylase
• Grain mill
• Still
• Carbon
• Screen
• Zeolite
• Metal can
• Hydrometer
• Unleaded gasoline

1. Get a permit to legally produce ethanol from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The permit is free if you are producing less than 10,000 gallons of alcohol annual.
2. Use the conversion calculator on The Ethanol Source website to calculate the measurements for ingredients based on the size of your boiler. For a 100 gallon boiler, you will need 350 lb. of grain, 40 gallons of water, 91 grams of alpha amylase. This will yield 18.5 gallons of ethanol.
3. Mill or pulverize the grain into a fine powder using a grain mill or hammer mill. Corn is the most popular choice, but soybeans, wheat and other grains work.
4. Convert the mixture to liquid by adding water and enzyme alpha amylase. Boil for 20 to 30 minutes to kill bacteria. Remove from heat and add glucoamylase, another enzyme.
5. Ferment the mixture by adding yeast. The result will be a beer or wine type fluid.
6. Separate the alcohol from the liquid by running it through a still.
7. Filter the ethanol with carbon to remove any surplus volatile organic compounds. Attach a tube filled with carbon to a funnel and pour the ethanol into the funnel.
8. Dry the ethanol by mixing it with Zeolite, an aluminum-silica substance that absorbs carbon dioxide and water. Allow it to sit in a can overnight. Run the dehydrated ethanol through a screen into another container.
9. Add unleaded gasoline to the pure ethanol (15 percent gasoline to 85 percent ethanol) to make E85. Use a hydrometer to confirm your ethanol is 200 proof. Any excess water will be filtered out and settle to the bottom when the gasoline is added.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the water from the Zeolite by boiling it on the grill or leaving in the sun to dry.
• Check your owner's manual before running your E85 in your gas tank. It is only recommended for Flex Fuel Vehicles.