POET develops technology to use storm water in ethanol process

July 26, 2011 |

In South Dakota, POET Biorefining has become the first ethanol plant in the state to apply for permits to use storm water in its plant instead of discharging it. Currently, the plant uses 440,000 gallons of water per day, and is charged $1.35 per 1,000 gallons of water by the city of Mitchell for water from Lake Mitchell. These funds are currently used to repay the bonds the city used to install a pipeline from Lake Mitchell to the ethanol plant before it opened five years ago.

In an effort to reduce water usage and increase efficiency, POET has figured out a way to reuse storm water in the industrial process and estimates the plant could start using the water in about a month if the state approves the usage permit.

Category: Fuels

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