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Anyone processing cattail rhizomes for ethanol?

Replied Nov 7

Anyone processing cattail rhizomes for ethanol?

Replied Nov 7

Anyone processing cattail rhizomes for ethanol?
8 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Thumpin455 Nov 8.

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Ron's Ethanol Project

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What do you have to say about Dave's book "Alcohol Can Be A Gas"?

Very valuable resource for anyone interested in ethanol fuel

About Me:

Making alcohol fuel production a major goal for component of small organic farm project...

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Washington State

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At 9:27pm on October 30, 2009, Rick Fisher said…: Ron

The boiler is looking great, looks like you've made a lot of progress since I last saw it. I know it's been a long haul but you're one major step closer to your goal. Hang in there and keep up the good work.

Take care, Rick

At 7:20am on September 23, 2009, Peggy Korth said…: Hello Ron,

Thank you for the update on your project. I'm pleased that my Small Scale Bioenergy books are helping and assume that you are reading our Cattail Hithings newsletters on our progress as well. This has been a power-packed summer in cattail education. Having a wee bit of help is a tremendous boost. You have a variety of comments in your replies that I would like to comment on. Your distillery looks great. Good job! Let me know if you have read my recent posts on rhizome processing and cattail harvesting in my newsletters or the alcoholfuel forum. I have not quite caught on to posting in Dave's group.
To Jim H. Congratulations on the mobile distillery precedent. Thank you for the huge step forward. Your example needs to be understood and followed universally. Please confirm that your permit has been issued.
To Trent B.: If you can combine objectives and include your community waste water people, you may be ablt to grow cattail as a field crop and enlist the support and assistance of the local government. That is what we are doin. There can be different lessons to learn, but right now the porject is moving on.
To Wild Man: We have decent fermentaion with Ale Yeasts. And now we are expanding to enzymes and nutrients. I wrote on this in the Alcoholfuel forum which is a current thread being disucssed. (Sept 09)
To Alison: Mission Community College is doing a similar project with their students as you have in your business plan.
I don't have a great deal of time to address each of you separately, so I hope that you get to see this post. You really need to read our free Cattail Histhings newsletters and please contribute. We have several hundred subscribers and share general cattail experience.
Best wishes,
Peggy

At 9:38pm on September 16, 2009, Colby Fisher said…: Hey,
Yes, I'm still present! I checked out the pics yesterday, in fact. Glad to see p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s!

At 2:37pm on August 6, 2009, Trent Blackburn said…: Ron,
Trent Blackburn here, from the Kitsap Peninsula. My wife and I are going to Ephrata and the Tri Cities to see family towards the end of August.

I was hoping I could stop by to see your still. I know you're busy this summer, so we'd keep it real quick. Does this sound do-able?

Thanks, Ron.

Trent

At 12:03am on July 13, 2009, jim herrington said…: Ron, I wish I had seen this before. I was in Othello Tuesday, this week. I would have liked to meet you and see what your're doing. I live in Richland and planning a still that I hope to co-op. Something that might interest you, I am going to build the still on a thirty foot trailer with the idea of taking it to the farms and, or, orchards to run culls,etc. I have a tenative approval from A.T.F. for the idea. I was told that the reg.'s did not allow the still to be mobile but, that they liked the idea and are considering an exception. They were pretty enthused, so I feel it's going to fly. How's that for finding favor? I'm still laughing. I am looking at a 600 gal dairy tank for cooking/ distilling. I have found some plastic tanks in Canada that are guranteed to 160 degrees for fermenters and water. Got a four cyl. nissan deisel engine for a power plant. Still need a generater and 8" stainless column. The column would be easy to come by except some scrap dealer is in here buying all the stainless at outrageous prices. Well, I may have to pay an outrageous price, but I'm going to have to have it.
I find that most people here don't know much about ethanol and are afraid of it. (you know, it will pop the top out of your pistons, etc.). So, I'm going to do some public education classes at the public library. The library is moving to their new bldg. right now but, as soon as they reopen I can use a room there for public meetings. Probably two weeks. Maybe you could come down and give a little moral support? I have a big mouth, but am not really a public speaker.
Please excuse this mess. I don't type and I think fast. I'm so bad with computers that if I try to fix it, I'll probably make it worse. Oh yeah, your cattail harvest. If you can find some heavy rebar (1" or more), cut peices about 3' and take a torch and heat it about midpoint. Put a light bend in it ) . A piece of fairly heavy 3 or 4'' angle across the middle ( open side to your bars) and another to hold it together across the top.
Make a three piece bridle with some chain ( one each side-one top center. Top chain several inches longer than the sides. Tie it to the truck or tractor and head out. Sort of like a potatoe rake . Well, I guess I have rambled on enough. Sure is nice to find someone close around whose interested in the fuel. Here's my # 509- 396-1009 please feel free to call anytime. Jim

At 12:47pm on April 24, 2009, Trent Blackburn said…: Hi Ron,

Trent Blackburn here, near Port Orchard.

I just read your 3/1 reply to Gerald Watts, specifically the regulatory bullshit we Washingtonians encounter. I've been on the phone with Kitsap County, the Fire Marshal, the ATF, the state . . .

Your 3/1 reply was sobering, to say the least, mildly depressing, but still, I really appreciate the dose of reality from someone who has "walked the walk".
It looks REALLY TOUGH to scale up this business to where one could make a living at it. Is that your plan there in Othello?

Thank you also, for establishing the WA State group.

Trent Blackburn

At 11:32pm on April 21, 2009, Colby Fisher said…: Hey, I am popular enough, I even got a letter from Washington, D.C.... though I can't say that it was fan mail.. =P

And indeed. Good thing I've a place to hide out.

At 3:50pm on April 5, 2009, Bill said…: Hey Ron,
Still up and running? Any production yet?

At 2:08am on March 22, 2009, Wild Man said…: you do know about the washington state property tax exemption for ethanol production. If you file for the exemption by Dec31 of this year you can get a property tax exemption for 6 years. I read the bill and have not found a minimum production requirement, although that sounds too good to be true.

At 5:57pm on March 21, 2009, Rusty Johnson said…: Hi Ron,
I'm a new member to the group. Please check my profile page for more information about me. I live on the other side of the Cascades from you over here in the Enumclaw area. My business installed the electrical system for the new Saddle Gap Pump Station for the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District there in Othello. We finished it last spring, but I'm coming over there next Tuesday to disconnect one of the Pumps for maintenance, and I was wondering if I could come by to see your Still and talk alcohol fuel production with you?