It is possible to produce small batches of ethanol at home using ordinary food and some basic pieces of equipment. First, you must request a written permission from the regional authority to ensure that your ethanol production is legal. Next, start gathering raw biomaterial (such as ripe vegetables and fruits) in a large container and place it in a well-ventilated area to allow it to ferment. Once you've mixed your homemade ethanol with gasoline, you can use it to power flex-fuel vehicles (like cars, trucks, and motorcycles) as well as some outdoor electrical equipment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Processing the raw biomaterial
Step 1. Apply for an authorization to produce ethanol in your state
In order for you to legally produce ethanol, you must first obtain written permission from the appropriate agency. If you reside in the United States, you must fill out the Producer Application Form found at http://www.ttb.gov/forms/f511074.pdf and submit it to the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Agency (TTB, for your review. If it is approved, you will receive a document with the approval to ferment and distill ethanol at home.
- If you reside outside of the United States, contact the governing body responsible for overseeing alcohol-related laws in your area for more information on how to legally produce ethanol.
- As an approved ethanol producer in the United States, you will achieve up to 38,000 liters (10,000 gallons) of ethanol per year.
Step 2. Gather ripe fruits and vegetables to ferment
For best results, choose sweet fruits and vegetables that are ripe. Commercial-grade ethanol is generally made from corn, but you can achieve the same result by using almost any type of agricultural product with a naturally high sugar content.
- You can check with your local grocery store or farmers market to see if they have any spoiled items that you can get off their hands for free.
- Products like apples, bananas, pineapples, peaches, potatoes, and sugar beets have a higher sugar content than other varieties of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, they tend to give off more natural ethanol.
Step 3. Fill a cylinder or similar container with rotten fruits and vegetables
Add the raw biomaterial until the drum is about 3/4 full. Be careful not to fill the container more than half full, as it could overflow during the fermentation process.
- If possible, you should use a standard 55 gallon (210 liter) metal drum. This container offers plenty of space and does not allow harmful contaminants to seep into the biomaterial while it undergoes fermentation.
- If you can't find a metal drum, you can also use a simple wooden or plastic barrel.
Step 4. Thoroughly mash the fruits and vegetables with a blunt object
You can use a broom handle, wooden dowel, or similar implement to stir and compress the biomaterial until a uniformly textured mixture forms. This procedure will help release more natural sugars and create space to add the rest of the necessary ingredients.
- Keep mashing the fruits and vegetables until the large pieces are removed.
- Rotten produce tends to give off a rather unpleasant odor. Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area and consider covering your face to reduce harmful odors.
Part 2 of 3: Fermenting the Biomaterial
Step 1. Mix 1 to 2 packets of Distilling Yeast with the biomaterial
You need to open each package and sift the baking powder into the fermentation container. Then stir the mixture again until the yeast is evenly distributed throughout. Yeast is the key ingredient needed to start the fermentation process.
- As a general rule of thumb, you should use 1 packet of yeast for every 20 pounds of biomaterial.
- Distillation yeast is a special type of yeast that is resistant to alcohol, making it perfect for producing ethanol. You can find this product at any store that offers craft beer supplies.
Step 2. Add clean water to the top of the mixture
The exact proportion of water you should use varies depending on the amount of fruits and vegetables you are working with. In other words, you only need to add enough water to cover the biomaterial and keep it moist. The water level should not exceed 1 or 2 cm (0.4 or 0.7 inches) above the contents of the container.
- If possible, you should use distilled or filtered water. Tap water can introduce unwanted chemicals or impurities into your homemade ethanol batch.
- You can use warm or hot water to extract even more sugar from fruits and vegetables.
Step 3. Cover the fermentation container securely
If you are using a cylinder or a drum that comes with a removable lid, simply snap the lid back in place. Close makeshift containers by placing a garbage bag face down over the opening and taping it around the top edge to keep air out.
For the raw biomaterial to ferment successfully, it is important that you ensure that the container has been properly sealed
Step 4. Let the biomaterial ferment for at least 1 week
In most cases, it will take 7-10 days for the sugars in fruits and vegetables to break down completely. During this time, you should avoid opening the container for any reason, unless it is to control the sugar content of the biomaterial.
As the biomaterial settles, the yeast will feed on the natural sugars, producing simple alcohol or ethanol as a derivative
Step 5. Use a hydrometer to check the sugar content of the biomaterial on a daily basis
Open the fermentation container and insert the conical end of the hydrometer into the liquefied biomaterial. You will likely notice that the resulting sugar reading (most of the time in ounces per gallon, in Balling degrees, or Brix degrees) decreases a little more each day. After 7-10 days, there should be no sugar left, which means that the fermentation process is finished.
- Take a hydrometer when shopping for distilling yeast. You can also get one of these tools at a specialty cookware store.
- The biomaterial can ferment in more or less time, so it is recommended that you check the sugar content instead of following a set schedule.
Part 3 of 3: Distilling and Mixing Ethanol with Gasoline
Step 1. Transfer the biomaterial to a reflux column for distillation
Stir the mixture as soon as the hydrometer indicates that all the sugar has turned into alcohol. The longer you delay, the more likely it is that bacteria and other unwanted substances will start to grow.
- You can get your own reflux column for home use online. However, these items tend to be quite expensive, as a base model can often cost $ 200- $ 500.
- In some cases, it is possible to rent equipment like this at a very low daily or weekly rate. You can check with your local craft brewing and distilling companies for more information.
Step 2. Heat the biomaterial in the column to separate the water from the ethanol
Each reflow column works differently, so be sure to follow the instructions that came with your kit exactly. Generally speaking, the process involves heating the fermented liquid to steam and then extracting it through a special filter before depositing it in a separate container in the form of pure ethanol.
- Since ethanol is less dense than water, it evaporates and re-condenses at a higher rate than the rest of the unwanted liquid within the column. This means that you don't need to do any further filtration.
- Keep in mind that a container full of biomaterial will only produce a small amount of pure ethanol. In fact, it takes approximately 56 pounds (25 kg) of fruits and vegetables to produce 3 gallons (11 liters) of ethanol.
Step 3. Combine 85% purified ethanol with 15% gasoline to produce fuel
This is the standard ratio used to convert pure ethanol into a safe fuel source. Mix both liquids in a clean gasoline can or similar container, and be sure to seal it afterward. Once you've mixed ethanol with gasoline, you won't be able to use it for anything other than fuel.
- You may need to use a different amount of gasoline depending on the type of engine you plan to use and the specific regulations for producing ethanol in your area.
- To avoid accidents, you can store homemade ethanol fuel at room temperature in a well-ventilated space.
Advice
- You can use ethanol fuel to power certain models of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other flex-fuel vehicles.
- Outdoor electrical equipment (for example, mowers, chainsaws, and modified leaf blowers) may be required to run on ethanol.
Warnings
- Use homemade ethanol only for the purposes specified in the application documentation. You could get in big trouble if you make illegal use of ethanol and other substances that are used to make alcohol or fuel.
- Make sure to keep ethanol stored at a safe distance from any external heat source, as well as other flammable substances and materials.