BioTown, USA

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman hosts the grand opening of the new BioIsland, at the BP station in Reynolds, Ind. on Sept. 29, 2006. The BioIsland sells both E85 and biodiesel. E85 contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Biodiesel contains 20 percent soy biodiesel and 80 percent traditional diesel fuel. (Pictured from left to right are: Lt. Governor Skillman, Agriculture Director Andy Miller and Charlie Van Voorst, Reynolds town council president.)

Glossary

Anaerobic digestion

The breakdown of organic liquid waste in the absence of oxygen by bacteria to form biogas, similar to natural gas.

Ash

A grayish-white powdery residue of matter that remains after burning.

B2, B5, B10, B20

Designations for the percentage of biodiesel that has been blended into petroleum diesel (two percent, five percent and so on).

Biodiesel

A liquid fuel made from vegetable oil or fat such as soybean and canola oils and animal fat. Oil reacts with methanol and alcohol, creating biodiesel. Its byproduct is glycerol, which must be removed before use.

Bioenergy

Renewable energy created from biomass.

Biofuel

Renewable liquid fuel derived from biomass.

Biogas

Any gas derived from the natural decay of organic matter such as sewage, manure and plant crops in the absence of oxygen.

Biomass

Any recently generated organic material such as plant or animal waste.

Cellulosic ethanol

Ethanol produced using cellulosic materials like corn stover, switch grass, wood chips or paper pulp.

Corn stover

Corn stalks and husks that have been discarded after harvest.

E85

The designation for a fuel blend that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Ethanol

A liquid fuel commonly made from starch stored in grains such as corn. Corn is ground, cooked, converted to sugar by an enzyme, fermented using yeast and distilled into ethanol.

Feedstock

Raw materials used for the processing or manufacturing industry.

Flex-fuel vehicles

Cars modified to run on gasoline, E85 or any mixture of the two.

Gasification

The use of high temperatures and controlled oxygen to break down organic materials, producing a gas than can be burned to generate heat, steam or electricity.

Methane

A colorless, odorless gas used as a fuel.

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE)

A chemical compound used to combine oxygen with gasoline. It is manufactured by the chemical reaction of methanol and isobutylene and was recently banned in many states due to its implication in groundwater contamination.

Organic waste

Biodegradable wastes that can be processed in the presence of oxygen by composting or in the absence of oxygen using anaerobic digestion.

Switch grass

A six foot-tall wild grass; a possible ingredient in cellulosic ethanol production.

Syngas

Synthetic natural gas.