Ethanol
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol, commonly known as "grain alcohol”) is a versatile, high-performance fuel and fuel additive made by fermenting sugars. Domestically produced ethanol reduces the United States dependency on foreign oil while creating jobs and improving rural economies, in addition to providing significant environmental benefits. Current producers of ethanol cannot keep up with demand. In 2006, over 5 billion gallons of ethanol was produced from corn in the U.S. It is estimated that during 2007, approximately 7 billion gallons of ethanol will be produced in the U.S.In addition to the 105 existing ethanol plants that are currently operating, it is estimated that during 2007 and through 2010 an additional 75 corn-to-ethanol plants will come on line in the U.S. After 2010, it is also estimated that a major shift will occur, whereby corn will reach its limit as a source of feedstock for producing ethanol in the U.S. and cellulosics will begin to become the primary feedstocks for producing ethanol in biorefineries.
Initially targeting existing ethanol production plants in the U.S., adding the PureVision fractionation front-end line could replace corn as the feedstock or complement corn in producing ethanol at biorefineries.