Ethanol From Waste Straw

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Posted by michael on Friday April 23, 2004 @02:08AM from the rumpelstiltzkin dept.

phcrack writes "The CBC is reporting that 'Iogen Corporation of Ottawa has developed enzymes to break down waste straw and wood chips into ethanol on a commercial scale.' Apparently traditional ethanol from food crops like corn used at least as much energy to create as they released when burned. It's nice to see that big oil companies are helping fund a project like this too. It's very rare today to hear of a major company throwing money at a research project since the '80s."

11 of 449 comments (clear)

Re:How expensive? by grub · 2004-04-23 02:12 · Score: 4, Funny

At least it's good to see some sort of innovation coming out of Canada...

The research involves alcohol, you shouldn't be too suprised. :)

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Re:How expensive? by tybalt44 · 2004-04-23 02:15 · Score: 5, Funny

Not just alcohol! Alcohol by the gallon! What's more Canadian than that?
We're missing the potential! by ferralis · 2004-04-23 02:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Just think of what this will mean for breweries when it can be adapted to generate potable ethenol!
Silly people with your namby-pamby ideas of a brighter future through green, efficient energy.
Oh, wait...

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1. Re:We're missing the potential! by dasmegabyte · 2004-04-23 02:58 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I myself have developed a potent process to convert alcohol and processed chicken parts into methane gas.
  
  At least, my wife tells me it's potent.
  
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  Hey freaks: now you're ju
It's a very old news... by raorn · 2004-04-23 02:18 · Score: 5, Funny

In Soviet Russia we are making ethanol (C2H5OH) even from rotten potatos. By the way, why are you trying to burn it?

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1. Re:It's a very old news... by da3dAlus · 2004-04-23 02:41 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  In Soviet Russia, ethanol wastes YOU!
  
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  Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
Re:How expensive? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-04-23 02:22 · Score: 5, Funny

Ok, alcohol by the 3.79 Litre full!
well if you can't... by dj245 · 2004-04-23 02:34 · Score: 3, Funny

Well, if you can't turn straw into gold, at least you can turn waste straw into black gold substitute.

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It's rare. by Syberghost · 2004-04-23 03:14 · Score: 3, Funny

It's very rare today to hear of a major company throwing money at a research project since the '80s.

It's rare to HEAR about it. It's not rare for it to happen.

Most media outlets aren't willing to say anything positive about capitalism, it undermines their agenda.
In other news.... by vwjeff · 2004-04-23 03:23 · Score: 3, Funny

In other news, scientists at some college have discovered that eating tacos before sleep will cause the individual to create methane gas the next day.

"With this discovery, the United States may finally have a reliable alternative to fossil fuels," the scientist claimed. "The only problem we now face is creating a process to collect the gas and the possibility of mud butt."
Re:Research (can be) smart business. by dcsmith · 2004-04-23 04:45 · Score: 4, Funny

...And it'll take a lot of trouble to store and transport these gases. So don't hold your breath for a practical fuel cell any day now.
But, if you're releasing oxygen, why would you hold your breath?
Here, let me help; -1 Offtopic

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