Ethanol

From theEthanolSource.com

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound. It is the alcohol that is found in alcoholic beverages. Common vernacular refers to it as simply as alcohol. Its empirical chemical formula is C2H6O. It can be produced a number of ways, one is through fermentation. Fermentation is our focus on this site, as the other methods require petroleum.

Uses

Ethanol can be consumed by humans to produce inebriation, burnt by cars as fuel, or used in the transesterification process to produce biodiesel. Ethanol as a fuel has shown promise. In 2006, the Indy Racing Leage announced that they will be running 100% ethanol fuel blend by 2007 ([1]). In February 2006, George W. Bush announced ethanol as a viable renewable energy source for the replacement of gasoline [2].

Brazil, with its large sources of sugar cane, use at least E22 (22% ethanol), sometimes even E100. India, China and Japan have also announced their gasohol policies. These countries require at least 10% ethanol in all fuels. With the recent ban on MTBE (methyl tetrabutyl ether), ethanol in these fuels is used primarily as an octane booster.

Production

Most ethanol used for industrial and fuel blends is currently produced from petroleum. Fermentation is the method by which all alcoholic beverages are produced. Fermentation, however, can also yield fuel ethanol if the product is distilled and dehydrated.