jim k Wrote in message:
Jethro_uk Wrote in message:
On Sun, 01 Oct 2017 03:40:15 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwmfBp3U2Os

FWIW, there is a *lot* of real-science work being done on this. The holy
grail being able to directly ferment cellulose (e.g. grass) into ethanol,
and thence be able to power ourselves by grass clippings.

The current sticking point is that the chain of biology involved is
leisurely at best. My brother was working on supercomputer simulations to
try and devise better molecules, but there appears to be some sort of
biological "master clock" which limits the rates of reactions.
(Interestingly this is the same factor in doctors starting to understand
why different people react differently to the same drugs ...)

Annoyingly, it's very hard to get all the water out of ethanol/water due
to the boiling point of the mixture being slightly lower than the boiling
point of water (96C IIRC). Azoetrope IIRC again ....

Doesn't distillation work? Ethanol boils at c78 deg C?

Ah azoetropes! :-)
--
Jim K


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