Whisky biofuel made in Scotland
In Scotland, UK, scientists at Edinburgh Napier University have developed a new whisky-based biofuel that could be available at filling stations in as little as a few year’s time.
The nation’s whisky industry is worth £4 billion (€4.8 billion). Two by-products created during whisky production and available in abundance are pot ale and draff. Both produced during the distilling process, 1.6 billion litres of pot ale, the liquid from copper stills, and 187,000 tonnes of draff, the spent grains, come out of the process each year.
These waste products will be used to make butanol, a fuel which has the potential to generate 30% more power than ethanol, and the researchers have apparently already filed for a patent. They are also rumoured to form a spinout company that will commercialise their findings.
According to the scientists the new biofuel has real potential to be sold alongside conventional fuels because car engines do not need to be modified in any way. They went on to claim that the new fuel could also be used as an aviation fuel.
Commenting on the new findings Martin Tangney, project director, said: ‘What people need to do is stop thinking…like for like substitution for oil. That’s not going to happen. Different things will be needed in different countries. Electric cars will play some role in the market, taking cars off the road could be one of the most important things we ever do.’
The nation’s whisky industry is worth £4 billion (€4.8 billion). Two by-products created during whisky production and available in abundance are pot ale and draff. Both produced during the distilling process, 1.6 billion litres of pot ale, the liquid from copper stills, and 187,000 tonnes of draff, the spent grains, come out of the process each year.
These waste products will be used to make butanol, a fuel which has the potential to generate 30% more power than ethanol, and the researchers have apparently already filed for a patent. They are also rumoured to form a spinout company that will commercialise their findings.
According to the scientists the new biofuel has real potential to be sold alongside conventional fuels because car engines do not need to be modified in any way. They went on to claim that the new fuel could also be used as an aviation fuel.
Commenting on the new findings Martin Tangney, project director, said: ‘What people need to do is stop thinking…like for like substitution for oil. That’s not going to happen. Different things will be needed in different countries. Electric cars will play some role in the market, taking cars off the road could be one of the most important things we ever do.’
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