Going Green Student Poster Showcase

ALCOHOL: A Cleaner AlternativeZack Koscielny; Mr. Frykoda; Strathclair Community School

Alcohol is a form of biofuel that is made by fermenting certain starchy grains. Depending on what type of grain is being used, the mash may need to be boiled before the fermentation stage. The most commonly used grain in Canada because of cost and availability is barley. Barley does need to be boiled before the fermentation stage to assist in the breakdown of the starch. At an industrial level, enzymes are added to accelerate the breakdown of the starch, producing the alchohol. Alcohol provides a number of advantages over fossil fuels, some of which most people may not even be aware of. However, there are some disadvantages to this renewable energy resource. Both the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy resources need to be considered when reviewing possible alternatives to fossil fuels or other non-renewable energy sources.

ABSTRACT

Barley has been grown in Manitoba for decades, making it a reliable source of grain for alchohol production in this province. Manitoba accounts for approximately 10% of Canada’s total barley production, or 618,000 tonnes in 2012. When considering availability, and even cost, barley is certainly a very wise choice for alcohol production in Manitoba. Another abundant crop produced in Manitoba is oats, which can also be used for producing alcohol. Oat kernels have a more porous hull and therefore do not need to be boiled before fermenting. However, oats do not have as high of a starch content barley or corn. As newer, faster maturing varieties of corn become available, it may also present itself as a viable option. Corn also has a very high starch content and it would provide some diversity in the grain used for alcohol production, reducing the potential shortage of feed grain and inevitable increase in price.

MANITOBA FRIENDLY SOURCES

When considering the use of alcohol as a potential alternate fuel source, both the advantages and disadvantages of this fuel source must be examined thoroughly. As renewable, clean burning source of fuel, alcohol provides many advantages over fossil fuels.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGESOVER FOSSIL FUELS

Figure 2. Industrial sized boiler for making alcohol,

homemade still.

• Line 1

• Line 2

• Line 3

• Line 4

CONCLUSIONS

1. http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/index.html2. http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/barley-orge/harvest-recolte/2012/qbsm12-qosm12-04-eng.htm3. http://www.botanical-online.com/english/barleyfoods.htm

4. http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/agric_economics/staff/CropsManitoba20102011.pdf5. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rnrgynfmtn/nrgyrprt/lsnd/pprtntsndchllngs20152004/

qapprtntsndchllngs20152004-eng.html

REFERENCES

Figure 3. Insert your charts or graphs here.

Figure 1. Corn and Barley crops

Table 1. Insert your charts or graphs here.