Ethanol "tastes just like vodka"
Jacek Koziel and Hans van Leeuwen, professors at Iowa State University, are looking to put a new put a new twist on the notion of drinking and driving. The duo has a $79,000 grant from the state-run Grow Iowa Values Fund to develop a cheap process of turning ethanol developed for fuel into a food-grade alcohol which can be used in beverages, pharmaceuticals and personal care products.What's the point, right? The author of the AP article points out that the demand for fuel is at an all time high, so why would anyone need to find an additional use for ethanol? van Leeuwen's response is that the automotive industry, in spite of recent trends, may move towards a different fuel, whereas "the demand for liquor and mouthwashes and cough syrups will always be there." As Iowa continues to add ethanol plants, it seems as though they foresee a need to hedge their bets.
van Leeuwen also makes sure to note that the food-grade ethanol "tastes just like vodka."
[Source: Associated Press via MSNBC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Robert Brodrecht 10:33PM (8/28/2006)
"van Leeuwen also makes sure to note that the food-grade ethanol 'tastes just like vodka.'"
That's because good vodka is supposed to be ethanol and water.
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snakesausage 7:46PM (8/29/2006)
He is definitely is taking ethanol in the right direction. It is not a solution it is only a distraction. Biodiesel is the way to go but the EPA wrongly restricts NOx to tightly.
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T Lee 7:24AM (9/02/2006)
Fuel used for IC motors is anhydrous ethanol that has been denatured at 5% (made non palatable). If we don't denature then we are making ethyl alcohol add a little flavoring and water you have a bottle of vodka. Ethanol is flavored with all types of additives and colorants but when it comes down to it its all C2H5OH. Makes me wonder why a grant was won on this question.
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Arthur Downs 7:28AM (9/02/2006)
Despite all of the hype about 'premium; vodka, it is still nothing more than ethanol and water. Premium typically means little more than a higher price, advertising hype, and a fancy bottle.
Then again, people pay a lot of money for 'premium' water that comes in a bottle and complain about the price of gasoline.
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George Karbowski 7:41AM (9/02/2006)
I managed a fleet of over 300 Ethanol fueled transit buses in the 90's. We used denatured "Neat" Ethanol Neat is a bartenders term for straight up alcohol. Th fuel was 100% / 200 proof alcohol denatured with methanol and unleaded gasoline to be able to avoid liquor taxes and take a federal tax credit for blended ethanol fuel. The fuel being discussed starts out as moonshine. Sounds like the process to make it cheap means to avoid liqour taxes. SCAM!
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tank 8:22AM (9/02/2006)
this is crazy can i get i 79 grand if i tell you something everyone knows like gas prices suck now where my money lol ppl are stupid
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PEPPA 8:39AM (9/02/2006)
JUST WHAT THE FREAKIN WORLD NEEDS.... A NEW DRINK !!! THESE GUYS ARE BANKING ON MAKING MILLIONS FOR THEMSELVES !!!! COUGH SYRUP? MOUTHWASH ??? WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THOSE PRODUCTS ALREADY.... IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY THESE IDIOTS CAN REAP FOR THEMSELVES !!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SICKOS WHO WILL TRY THIS BEFORE IT GETS THE OK FROM THE FDA ????
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Dave 9:17AM (9/02/2006)
The Submarine Navy had to add a poison to the ethanol torpedo fuel to keep the sailors from drinking it. This goes back to the 1800's.
A charcoal filter would make it drinkable again.
We called it...
"Pink Lady" Pure Grain Alcohol, with additives to prevent human consumption, pink in color.
and
"Gilly" Pure grain alcohol, also, known as "Torpedo Juice"
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Dave pirie 9:18AM (9/02/2006)
This is all about tax incentives. If they get government tax incentives for making fuel (and crop incentives for growing corn or potatoes or whatever they wish to turn into alcohol)and then convert the juice for human consumption, the drink can be sold without any production cost. The liquior tax would not apply as it was produced as a fuel. The speakeasy would be revived. Pure profit from pure alcohol.
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Michelle 9:25AM (9/02/2006)
IN A WORD -- REDICULOUS...
IMAGINE IF SCIENCE RECIEVED GRANTS FOR USEFUL PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BETTER MAN KIND...
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Dave 9:29AM (9/02/2006)
Yes, imagine...
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George S. Davis 9:48AM (9/02/2006)
Hello, If any one is interested I have a method that grows 32 stalks of Sweet corn in the same space that takes to grow one in ground. The method is called Dark Gardening. The corn is grown in 2 liter recycled bottles and yes I have pictures. Email me. I don't have a website.
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CHRISTINE SZUMIGALA 12:24PM (9/03/2006)
ANY HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE STUDENT KNOWS THAT METHANOL IS POISONOUS AND THAT GRAIN ALCOHOL (ETHANOL) IS FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. MOST DISTILLED SPIRITS INCLUDING SOME VODKAS ARE DISTILLED FROM GRAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE PERSON WAS THAT APPROVED THE FUNDING FOR THIS GRANT. I HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT INVOLVE THE USE OF CLEAR NAIL POLISH. DO YOU SUPPOSE I CAN GET A $10 GRANT FOR THAT?
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Marie 11:02AM (9/02/2006)
Why so much focus on using CORN for ethanol since you can make it cheaper and have a more reliable source using grass or other vegetation? If everyone continues to think that corn-based ethanol is going to "save us" from the big bad oil people, they're wrong. There's weather issues, not to mention that farmers can "decide" whether or not to grow a product. Since a majority of farmed goods now come from huge commercial farms owned by corporations, doesn't that remind you of a cartel?
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Ron Ford 10:26AM (9/02/2006)
Imagine......ethanol as vodka. Brilliant! And the Fed's are paying for this conversion. Looks like an opportunity for a new tax on this home-grown white lightning. Now we know what ethanol really is!
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jared dean 10:34AM (9/02/2006)
all ethanol really is is moonshine whiskey! people have been drinking it forever. it's just corn liquor, it wont hurt anybody.
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jeff 10:46AM (9/02/2006)
Its kind of like Ford getting a big grant to develop a fuel cell car when they already developed a fuel cell Ford farm tractor in the 1950's.
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Joseph Turner 10:48AM (9/02/2006)
Well........DUH ! Ethanol IS Vodka and vice-versa. The main difference is that Ethanol is made from corn and Vodka is made from wheat.
Actually, Ethanol is "grain alcohol" and,thus, is more like the "White Lighting" produced by Moonshiners in Kentucky than Vodka from St Petersberg.
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Nate W. 7:38PM (9/02/2006)
ETHANOL SUCKS!!!!!! I live near an ethanol plant, and the air smells awful, and it's so loud i can barely sleep at night. Yes, they do say that it cuts down on pollution from an automobile when used, but that is made up in the pollution the ethanol plant itself releases. Bottom line, ethanol is not worth it.
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tawny 12:44PM (9/02/2006)
This will not go thru, it has been shown before i dont think its that big deal. Only in America, Do you think Iran is thinking this?
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