Maize is our staple meals right here in Kenya.
However it’s greater than only a staple meals.
It’s a lifestyle, particularly for folks residing right here.
Maize not solely feeds us, however within the strategy of rising it, we generate waste.
Take into consideration the stalks, stovers and cobs which can be a part of the entire sport.
The stalks and stovers are generally left on the farm to leach again crops vitamins into the soil – the aim of conservation agriculture.
The maize cobs then again could possibly be floor and combined with livestock feeds.
Alternatively, they could possibly be used as soil modification.
However they may be transformed to bioethanol.
So let’s take a pause and replicate on one other widespread Kenyan meals waste.
POTATO PEELS
All of us love these chips however the place can we throw the peels?
A few of us discover numerous makes use of for them together with composting, making biogas and even lievstock feeds.
However what if we have been to have a look at these peels (and the maize cobs) utilizing a unique eye?
THE ALCOHOLIC EYE…
Yeah proper…
Don’t get me incorrect.
Sure, alcohol is a beverage (to some)…
However it’s a gasoline which might democratise entry to renewable vitality if managed nicely.
Right here’s why…
STARCH & CELLULOSE
Maize cobs and potato peels are filled with a substance that we use on a regular basis – glucose.
Nevertheless this glucose happens in numerous varieties in these two wastes…
In maize cobs, it’s largely within the type of cellulose and lignin.
Nevertheless in potato peels, it’s within the type of starch.
These semantics have extra to do with the best way these glucose molecules are related to one another.
However that’s in addition to the purpose.
If these two wastes are positioned someplace and provided with simply the correct enzymes, the starch and cellulose could possibly be damaged right down to glucose.
Thoughts you, the enzymes we’re speaking about are current in meals wastes.
When glucose is provided with yeast, it’s transformed to ethanol.
That is what we name bioethanol (as a result of it comes from biomass).
So what’s the fuss about bioethanol? You say…
CLEAN COOKING
There are a number of firms that promote bioethanol stoves to low earnings households.
In different phrases, they promote sustainable gasoline.
However a few of themare having it tough in the mean time…
Bioethanol shouldn’t be as simple to return by in Kenya.
In order that they’ve been pressured to import it from nations that produce it for export.
This interprets to increased overheads and prices.
However what in the event that they have been to supply for it right here in Kenya?
It might create enterprise, employment, entry to cleaner cooking amongst different issues.
SO WHAT AM I SAYING?
Let’s take a unique view of waste.
I do know, I do know…this appears a tall order…
In spite of everything… bioethanol yields from these sources (particularly maize cobs) remains to be low.
However that is the place breakthroughs that change fortunes are made.
Bioethanol beats biodiesel in cooking purposes as a result of it has a low flash level.
In different phrases, it may possibly ignite at room temperature.
Some types of biodiesel might have temperatures increased than 50°C to take action.
So think about alternatives obtainable if revolutionary younger folks capitalize on changing maize cobs into bioethanol?
Let me cease at that.
