Ethanol Gas
Ethanol gas is nothing but ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Alcoholic beverages mostly contain ethanol. Ethanol gas is an alternative for gasoline. Countries such as Brazil make extensive use of ethanol gas to run their vehicles.
The manufacture and processing of ethanol gas is an easy process. Ethanol gas can be prepared from crops like maize and sugar cane. Countries like the United States of America, South Africa and some European countries are the major suppliers of these crops.
Production of Ethanol Gas:
The main steps involved in the large-scale production of ethanol gas are microbial fermentation of sugars, distillation, and dehydration. The denaturing step is an optional step. Fermentation, saccharification or hydrolysis of carbohydrates of the crops may be required. Hydrolysis of carbohydrates converts starch and cellulose to simple sugars.
The first step of ethanol gas production is microbial fermentation. Fermentation of sugar and starch portions is for economical purpose. Yeast is the name of a microorganism that brings about this fermentation process.
Distillation is a step for removal of water from the ethanol gas. Ethanol gas needs to be free of water for its use as a fuel. The purity of ethanol gas after distillation is 95-96%. People can use this gas with 95.6% purity as fuel. It remains immiscible in gasoline. All the water content is removed from the gas in further steps.
Dehydration is a physical absorption process using a molecular sieve. It is the most extensively used method in purification. Azeotropic distillation is another method of purification done by adding benzene.
Benefits of Ethanol Gas:
The main benefit of ethanol gas is that it is a renewable source of fuel. Ethanol gas burns cleaner then gasoline or any other diesel fuel. The sources used for the production of ethanol gas absorb carbon dioxide as it grows. As a result, this gas lowers the levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Ethanol gas production creates job opportunities and economic development in rural communities. Ethanol does not pollute ground water as bad as gasoline because of its ability to separate when exposed to water. In contrast to fossil fuels, it makes the environment safer and a better place for living organisms to survive.
Ethanol gas is cheaper to produce than gasoline. The cost required for producing ethanol gas is half the price of gasoline production. Ethanol gas production saves hundreds of gallons of fuel per year. People can use this gas in modern day vehicles, and for fuel distribution infrastructure.
Ethanol gas could blend with gasoline or be used as a sole source of fuel. Purchase of ethanol gas benefits the farmers who produce the crops for ethanol production.
Production of ethanol gas reduces the dependence on importing foreign oil. By using a proper blend of ethanol gas with gasoline, government can continue to grow its own economy by reducing the amount spent on foreign oil.
Ethanol and my Education at Ethanol.net « Ethanol said
[...] Media Hype around Ethanol Gas Why are there so many contradicting views about ethanol and it’s effect on food and gas [...]
Ethanol Gas Mileage - Increase or Decrease? « Ethanol Fuel - Future of e85 & Ethanol Production said
[...] 2005 Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota models. The conclusion showed that different blends of ethanol gas generate significantly different [...]