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Irish researcher has discovered that whiskey could be used as gasoline

By
KERRY O'SHEA,
IrishCentral Intern
Published Friday, January 27, 2012, 8:38 AM
Updated Friday, January 27, 2012, 10:44 AM

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America's favorite whiskey OR gasoline?
America's favorite whiskey OR gasoline?
Photo by Google Images


Irish researcher and biochemistry professor Martin Tangney has found a new and highly potential use for one of Ireland’s favorite products - whiskey. Tangney has discovered that biofuel can be created from the by-products of whiskey.

The Irish Examiner reports that Tangney, a UCC graduate who now works in Scotland at Edinburgh Napier University as a professor of biochemistry, discovered that the by-products draff and pot-ale are suitable as biofuels if they are “harnessed before being converted into energy” during the whiskey making process.

Scotland has a vast resource of these whiskey by-products, most notably at Glemorangie and Glenfiddich. After a number of years of research in the area, Tangney yesterday launched a company for the newly discovered product.

In 2007, Tangney established Britain’s first ever research centre dedicated to biofuel research at Edinburgh Napier University. After years of research, the researcher and professor has branched out to launch the company Celtic Renewables Ltd.

The new company will first focus on working within Scotland’s “€4.8bn malt whisky industry to develop a next-generation biofuel known as bio-butanol, and other renewable chemicals.”
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Bio-butanol, unlike other biofuels, has huge global potential according to researchers. The new biofuel can be used as a direct replacement for petrol, or can be used as a blend and wouldn’t require any engine modification.

“The process we developed can convert the by-products of whisky production [pot ale, the liquid from the copper stills, and draff, the spent grains] into sustainable biofuel — no need for engine modification and no drop off in performance,” say Tangney of the process he helped develop.

In conjunction with Scottish Enterprise, Celtic Renewables Ltd is hoping to get into industrial sized production of bio-butanol. “Each year the industry produces 1,600 million litres of pot ale and 500,000 tons of draff,” reports the Irish Examiner.

Tangey said of the potential for production, “The Scottish malt whisky industry is a ripe resource for developing bio-butanol. The pot ale and draff could be converted into biofuel as a direct substitute for fossil-derived fuel, which would reduce oil consumption and C02 emissions while also providing energy security — particularly in the rural and remote homelands of the whisky industry.”

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20 Comments

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peterson | Jan 29, 2012, 05:49 PM EST
I'm wondering what the side effects are ????
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peterson | Jan 29, 2012, 09:48 AM EST
Sounds better than dumping the by products.
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irishcoffeekid | Jan 28, 2012, 09:45 PM EST
I'm pretty sure i saw an episode of McKiver on RTE (Irish tv channel) about 15 years ago (when I lived in Ireland) and he used alcohol as a fuel in it! I know he was able to make anything out of anything but I'm not sure this is such big news!!!!!
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AmericanGirl83 | Jan 28, 2012, 04:52 PM EST
My Father's side of the family are Irish, and Lord knows they use to bootleg moonshine years ago here in the States. People always wondered why my Great Grandpa never bought gas for his car. LOL
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Portia777 | Jan 28, 2012, 10:05 AM EST
Uisce Beatha Water of life- perfect.
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gobdawpaddy | Jan 28, 2012, 08:18 AM EST
Jaysuz what a waste. Would it work if I ran it through my kidneys first?
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faberm1 | Jan 27, 2012, 10:45 PM EST
I'd rather drink the stuff and get friends to help push the car while they discuss Obama, moon colonies, laffer curves, George W etc. . Let's discuss politics AFTER we finish the bottle. :)
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faberm1 | Jan 27, 2012, 09:16 PM EST
Well, I knew that , and everyone else should have. Ever heard of MoonShine? lol 197 proof!
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Yardleypa | Jan 27, 2012, 05:57 PM EST
Basically ite ethanol can be extracted from sugar cane or corn.Brazil runs most of there cars on ethanol in the USA they usually blend 10% in the gas.Its not an new discovery its been around quite a while .What is more interesting is getting diesel from compacting coal.The germans did it in WW2 as they were cut off from oil supplies.
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Murph46 | Jan 27, 2012, 04:53 PM EST
Thought editors blocked inappropriate posts,wonder of wonders it has even happened to li'l ole me!
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seanomelbourne | Jan 27, 2012, 04:49 PM EST
politics, whiskey and petrol are a volatile mix.Leave the politics for an appropiate post. some people just can't help themselves.
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Murph46 | Jan 27, 2012, 02:49 PM EST
Lghten up ,just checkin your sense of humor. When I see the world's cartoons of this dolt I cringe.If I offended you I apologize.I'll buy you a shot of Jameson's or Middleton's to get rid of that bad taste.
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muirisobric | Jan 27, 2012, 02:39 PM EST
Murph46. I didn't write "I have my problems with Obama etc..." I'm surprised this is happening on Irish Central. Leaves a bad taste......
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Murph46 | Jan 27, 2012, 02:18 PM EST
muirisobric -Talked to your Mom-He's not reponsible for you. According to him ,he is not responsible for anything,three years in still blaming Bush.He is the quintessential Teflon President!Need any other schooling?
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muirisobric | Jan 27, 2012, 01:52 PM EST
ú mess wit' whiskey & it'll backfire.......
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