FCar2000TA

iTrader: (7)

Curious is anyone has tried to make their own Ethanol fuel from grocery store waste fruit. Since you wouldn't be concerned with the taste, just the Ethanol content, I would think you could buy loads of expired fruit from grocery stores for next to nothing.

Just a thought I have been bouncing around for a long time.

I have a bad memory, so I apologize if I have already asked this.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

Grains can be turned into ethanol much quicker. Hell you don't even need grain, sugar and yeast then triple d.

FCar2000TA

iTrader: (7)

​​​​​​Of course sugar and water is better than fruit, but I am thinking from a cost perspective as well. Free (or nearly free) expired fruit is a lot cheaper than bags of sugar.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

You're not going to get around having to buy sugar which is the key ingredient to making ethanol and if you're looking to make high proof then you'll need more than just the fruit. The thing with fruits are that it takes up to 30 days of fermentation to get a good alcohol content where with grains it can be done in about 7-10 days and thats with adding additonal sugars. I prefer fruits for maklng spirits for drinking but for a quick wash sugar shine and then triple distillation to reach a higher ethanol content. With E85 the ethanol is mixed with other fuels not water so you can get away with 70% alcohol by volume. Don't think the engine is gonna like water so you'll need to reach 170 proof to get 85% ethanol but you'll still be dealing with some water. Getting to 200 proof or 100% ethanol would be the end goal but 180-190 proof will do.

FCar2000TA

iTrader: (7)

Ahh. I did not know that.

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Freaking science class here. You guys are smart. I’m being serious here…

gametech

iTrader: (1)

Even on an industrial scale, making ethanol for fuel is only cost effective because of government subsidies. Even with nearly free fruit/yeast/sugar/etc., the energy used to distill to a usable concentration and remove water is cost prohibitive for fuel. Up the price to what people pay for whiskey, and lower the concentration while also negating the need for water removal and the cost equation becomes more favorable.

Y2K_Frenzy

Prison hooch. Find someone with a home made looking spider web tattoo and ask him how to make it. Tell him you want to use it as fuel though.