Sugar Palm to be Gasoline
Monday, 04 August, 2008 | 11:36 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Bandung: The energy crisis has forced people to look for energy alternatives. Johan Mononutu from North Sulawesi has discovered sugar palm as a potential ethanol.
“Only the sugar palm which has turned to acid can be made into ethanol,” said Johan to Tempo, Sunday (3/8).
The commissioner of PT Seho Energi presented his theory in Bandung for two days recently.
Johan started the project in 2007 in South Minahasa with the support of the regional government. Minahasa is known for its large number of sugar palm trees.
This bio-ethanol is started by fermenting the sugar palm for three days. It is then refined to a 90-94 percent of ethanol.
The ethanol than is processed with a dehydrator to a 100-percent bio-ethanol with fuel-grade quality. “It is qualified already as a fuel for cars and industries,” said Johan.
Johan explained that 70-percent of ethanol can be used as a kerosene substitute. While a higher percentage of ethanol can be used as diesel for generators. He said that bio-ethanol is friendly.
Adelheid Sidharta
TEMPO Interactive, Bandung: The energy crisis has forced people to look for energy alternatives. Johan Mononutu from North Sulawesi has discovered sugar palm as a potential ethanol.
“Only the sugar palm which has turned to acid can be made into ethanol,” said Johan to Tempo, Sunday (3/8).
The commissioner of PT Seho Energi presented his theory in Bandung for two days recently.
Johan started the project in 2007 in South Minahasa with the support of the regional government. Minahasa is known for its large number of sugar palm trees.
This bio-ethanol is started by fermenting the sugar palm for three days. It is then refined to a 90-94 percent of ethanol.
The ethanol than is processed with a dehydrator to a 100-percent bio-ethanol with fuel-grade quality. “It is qualified already as a fuel for cars and industries,” said Johan.
Johan explained that 70-percent of ethanol can be used as a kerosene substitute. While a higher percentage of ethanol can be used as diesel for generators. He said that bio-ethanol is friendly.
Adelheid Sidharta