Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.

It seems that the scientists at the National Lab have come up with a way to run a Tomahawk missile on corn.
Los Alamos National Labs has come up with a replacement fuel for JP-10 that uses corn bran and other feedstocks instead of petroleum products. The result is a fuel that can be sourced directly from America’s most plentiful crop, bypassing foreign sources.
That's interesting science, but recent events show us to be awash in petroleum, certainly not dependent of foreign sources of fuel.  At one time last month, crude oil sold for $-34/bbl.  They couldn't give it away without paying someone to haul it off.

If memory serves, the original diesel engine was designed to run on vegetable oil.  They got away from that when petroleum became more widely available.

It's interesting to know that we can make jet fuel from corn, but at this particular moment, I'm not convinced that it's particularly applicable to the markets, unless we're trying to subsidize corn production.

3 comments:

Termite said...

"Unlike petroleum-based JP-10, the feedstock-based method doesn’t require harsh acids to manufacture, making it more environmentally friendly to use as well."
If they are making from corn oil, then they are most likely using a process called transesterification. That process uses either methyl hydroxide(most commonly), or ethyl hydroxide.
Alcohol, either methyl or ethyl, is mixed with 100% sodium hydroxide(pure lye, also known as caustic soda). The alcohols need to be 100%, if possible.
Then the methyl/ethyl hydroxide is added to the vegetable oil, and stirred well. The result is methyl ester or ethyl ester(AKA, bio-diesel), and glycerin.

I've made bio-diesel before from used fryer oil; it isn't hard.

Here's a link to a description of the process.

https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee439/node/684

Dave said...

Subsidizing corn buys plenty of votes in Iowa and the rest of the midwest Corn Belt.

See E85 gas.

Mike Silvius said...

And what do you suppose that will do to the price of animal feed and you favorite beef or pork cut?