Ethanol plants using hops to eliminate bacteria

Minnesota Public Radio News
by Mark Steil, Minnesota Public Radio
September 14, 2009

Lucan, Minn. — Ethanol companies are looking back to the monasteries of ancient Europe for one possible solution to a troublesome production issue.

They have to control bacteria to make good ethanol. The most common weapon, antibiotics, works well enough, but it's becoming a public relations headache.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration said it was finding antibiotic residue in an ethanol byproduct. That byproduct is sold as feed for cattle and other livestock, which is a problem. For the ethanol industry, the findings raised the threat of both bad publicity and government regulation.

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