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With the continued growth of the use of ethanol as a fuel additive for cars and trucks, there are a few people shunning the technology believing they will have to buy a new car once the blended gasoline is prevalent. However, there is a god chance that your currently vehicle sitting in your garage is already an ethanol vehicle.

All major automotive manufacturers have backed the use of E-10 ethanol in vehicles that burn regular gasoline and there has been no evidence that its use causes any harm or damage to the engine. An ethanol vehicle has shown no significant decrease in mileage, power or performance that those that run strictly on gasoline.

Actually, since ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, it can actually help prevent deposits from building up on fuel injectors, helping to main the original gas mileage and avoid the loss of power typically seen in cars with high mileage. Gasoline refiners have altered their formulas over the years as basically any vehicle that burns regular gasoline can be considered an ethanol vehicle once an ethanol blend has been added to its tank.

Changes Needed For Biodiesel and Pure Alcohol

E-10 ethanol, a mix of 10 percent ethanol and gasoline, has little or no impact on the efficiency of a gasoline engine. However, for those wanting to operate their own still and run their car on straight alcohol, a few modifications will be needed. Things like input jets, main jet and air fuel mixture to turn it into a pure ethanol vehicle. Just do not drink the fuel.

There are several classes of race cars that burn pure alcohol and because of it being highly combustible, is not recommended in the family wagon with expert advice and direction. You can easily spot a pure ethanol vehicle, or more accurately smell one, as the burning alcohol has a distinct odor.

It has been said that diesel engines can run on just about any burnable liquid and they can for a while before something in the system gets gummed up. Running an unmodified diesel as an ethanol vehicle will harm the engine as ethanol burns significantly hotter than diesel, or corn oil, and can cause harm to the inner workings of the engine.

Modifications can be made without a lot of difficulty and there are conversion kits available, but currently many buses and trucks are using E-85 diesel, which is a blend of diesel fuel and 85 percent ethanol.

The ethanol fuel cell is a matter which needs to be taken quite seriously into consideration, especially once you realize the fact that using ethanol as fuel and this directly surrounds the matter of the ethanol fuel cell is actually one of the most topics of conversation in the world today.

In fact, the largest single use of ethanol period is as motor fuel and fuel additive, and the largest national fuel ethanol industries exist in Brazil, and one of the most major methods of production is through fermentation of sugar; ethanol also creates very little pollution, which is absolutely a positive thing, and as well, millions of acres of land are going to be needed if ethanol is to be used to replace gasoline hence why the matter of ethanol fuel cell is so critical.

More About the Ethanol Fuel Cell

In regards to leaning more about the ethanol fuel cell in general, basically you need to know that a fuel cell is a device that can actually obtain 40 to 50% efficiency in the conversion of fuel into useable power; this technology is actually a by-product of the NASA space program, which was originally developed to provide a lightweight and efficient power source for use on manned space missions.

However, it was soon realized that this incredible technology could be used for numerous other reasons, and so it was thus eventually shared with the world, and now there is the fact that ethanol is being considered as being the most major option to a replacement for gasoline in the world; this is even more important considering the fact that we are presently in a war with Iraq and that for the most part this is also where we get our fuel from.

It should also be known that some fuel cells actually use specialized molecular sieves made of complex polymers with some type of anode/cathode properties, and then others use expensive platinum catalysts. Then there are those which use pure hydrogen as a fuel source in order to be able to make electricity, and some are designed to run on propane, but they then may only have a membrane life expectancy of about 3,000 hours.

Overall, we can see the importance of this issue, and understand now why we should take it much more seriously into consideration overall.

A company that is also producing ethanol amongst its many other business interests is The Andersons Inc. This ethanol company is certainly going places in grains and ethanol and in spite of various ups and downs in the agriculture sector; The Andersons Inc. has remained steady and regular. With very large storage capacities that can hold 150 million bushels as well as efficient access to foreign as well as domestic markets, The Andersons Inc. has the wherewithal to capture a large chunk of the ethanol business that relies on corn for inputs.

With legislation being passed that will require more ethanol use by refiners; the doors are opening for ethanol companies to meet the expected doubling of demand over four years for ethanol in the United States. With mandatory requirements for at least 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol to be bought by gasoline refiners in the year 2012, ethanol companies can look forward to having their order books filled in the immediate future.

Providing a Host of Services

The Andersons Inc. is an ethanol company that provides services to the ethanol industry in various capacities such as plant management and corn origination and also ethanol marketing. The Andersons Inc. is the largest equity holder in The Andersons Albion (Michigan) Ethanol LLC as well as The Andersons Clymers (Indiana) Ethanol LLC. It has strategically placed ethanol plants that are situated in close proximity of their grain facilities and so are able to efficiently service the ethanol industry.

An ethanol company such The Andersons Inc. will surely play a major role originating over 175 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat and it is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade as well as the Renewable Fuels Association. With more and more public concern being voiced about global warming as well as fears about land being flooded if the emissions of greenhouse gases goes unchecked it is up to ethanol companies such as The Andersons Inc. and others to show the way forward in ethanol production and marketing.

Any ethanol company such as The Andersons Inc. would be assured of attracting hot money since ethanol is the buzzword and investors are pouring a lot of money into this industry. There is however need for exercising caution when investing in an ethanol company and it should be based on economic data rather than on political sentiments. There is also plenty of scope for ethanol companies to get into the modification of car engines to accommodate ethanol based fuels such as the flexible-fuel cars being churned out today.

The main aim and goal of Pacific Ethanol is to achieve dominance in the Western United State s marketing as well as production of fuels that are renewable. Laying emphases on products that use clean burning corn-based ethanol, this company has more than twenty years of experience in the development of bio-fuels and are well placed to meet the surging demand for alternative fuels that are domestically sourced.

It is not just all business at Pacific Ethanol which also aims to have good neighborly relations with the community and its ethanol plants will provide benefits to the local economy by creating new jobs, directly as well indirectly. With more clean-burning fuel being churned out by Pacific Ethanol, it will also contribute to lesser air pollution and promote better environments.

Gasoline That Is Blended with Ethanol Would Comply With Clean Air Regulations

Pacific Ethanol recognizes that the market for ethanol in the United States has increased and with the prohibition in states all over the country against using Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, which was the fuel used to increase octane levels in gasoline, it has left ethanol as the only viable alternative additive that will ensure gasoline being compliant with state as well as federal clean air regulations.

Pacific Ethanol sells more than just ethanol and along with producing and selling alternative fuels it also sells byproducts though the focus is on corn-derived ethanol. This ethanol has many uses including being a fuel additive, a fuel by itself, a part of hydrogen fuel cells and a constituent of livestock feed. Pacific Ethanol has two strategically important production plants to cater to the West Coast s ethanol requirements and these are situated in the California farm belt in the San Joaquin Valley and also in Oregon to serve the Pacific Northwest of the country. The company also has ambitious expansion plans and is thinking about constructing production units that would have 420 million gallon capacity. This in itself is an amazing fact to consider.

Pacific Ethanol has purchased a new and state-of-the-art grain receiving as well as processing and storage facility situated in Madera, California that takes up 137 acres of land for the purpose. This facility is able to store 50,000 tons of grain and also has a completely automated feed mill as well as two rail loops to take care of up to 164 rail cars at the same time.

In order to properly understand the correlation between ethanol and biodiesel, one must first learn about each separately, and then they will be able to fully understand the relationship that is existent between the two matters. Ethanol and biodiesel are similar in many regards, and so all of the correlations between ethanol and biodiesel truly must be taken into serious consideration.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is basically a flammable, colorless, and mildly toxic chemical compound with a distinctive perfume-like odor and it is the alcohol that is found in alcoholic beverages; in more common usage, it is simply referred to as alcohol.

Ethanol has been used by humans since as far back as prehistoric times, and although it has also been used for more negative reasons, such as for explosive devices due to its flammable nature, it also has been considered as positive in means of alcohol and other products of the like; ethanol has been used as a treatment substance for as far back as prehistoric times as well, and so this is looked upon as being positive.

Not only that, but ethanol is the chemical compound which is presently considered as being what is going to take the place as our gasoline; this is an incredibly important topic especially considering the fact that we are in a raging war with Iraq and that this is where we depend on our fuel for the most part.

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a term which refers to a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources, and though derived from biological sources, it must be known that it is in fact a processed fuel which can be readily used in that of diesel-engined vehicles, which thus distinguishes biodiesel from the more straight vegetable oils.

What is the Relationship Between Ethanol and Biodiesel?

In regards to the actual relationship between ethanol and biodiesel, the most important factor that must be taken into consideration is the fact that these are the two main choices that are questioned in regards to which is better for the environment overall, and which is going to be what we use for the most part for the longest period of time. Ethanol for the most part however is considered as being the better choice, and this is for several different reasons.

However, there are also many benefits to biodiesel, and so these two must be taken properly into consideration.

The production of ethanol gas requires only ninety-five percent less petroleum when compared with the same quantity of fossil fuels, according to new studies conducted. The production of this gas is also far more environments friendly as it causes lesser amounts of greenhouse gases to be produced that in turn increase the possibility of global warming. It is believed that ethanol gas could contribute in no small measure to being more energy efficient as well as ninety-five percent free of emissions of greenhouse gases if use is made of woody plants in producing it, instead of corn.

There is no doubt the fact that when one uses ethanol gas they will benefit from this cleaner burning fuel which can provide the same efficiency as standard fuels. The standard 1:9 mixture of ethanol to gasoline can be used in any vehicle but there are also other mixtures that may be used to drive flexible-fuel cars and this mixture is known as the E85 that contains 85 % ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol gas is produced from renewable home-grown resources and is very advantageous to the economy as well as provides cleaner air.

Cars May Also Be Converted To Run On E85 Ethanol Gas

The process of producing ethanol is through fermentation of bacteria and breaking down of carbohydrate sugars like starch from corns. There are good possibilities for converting vehicles that run on unleaded fuel to also run on E85 ethanol gas and reputable car manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler sell cars that can run on such alternate fuels.

It is believed that out of every eight gallons of gasoline sold there is one gallon that contains ethanol gas which is mostly a ten percent ethanol and ninety percent gasoline blend and is sometimes referred to as gasohol or E10 whose primary use is in enhancing octane that helps to develop better quality of air. Ethanol gas blends that contain ten percent or less of ethanol have been used successfully in every type of engine and vehicle.

There is also a steady rise in the number of ethanol gas stations being opened up though this may be true only for corn growing states since the cost of transporting ethanol is quite prohibitive and so most ethanol gas filling stations seem to be cropping up in states such as Minnesota and Illinois. However, ethanol gas is sold in every state across the US and ethanol blends comprise total sales in areas of carbon monoxide and ozone no attainment, at certain times of the year.

When we consider the future in general, we must realize that there is a significant correlation between the future and ethanol, and so this is one matter that we must take incredibly seriously into consideration. The reason that there is a relationship between the matters of the future and ethanol is primarily due to the fact that ethanol is considered as being our next readily supply of fuel.

The Future and Ethanol

Ethanol is a chemical which is considered as having a number of different and all just as important factors, and it is also considered as having numerous different benefits. It is considered as being better than even biodiesel, and so basically it is the top choice in regards to an answer as to what we will be using in the future as our main source of fuel.

Although the actual future and ethanol are not completely coordinated side by side yet, it is considered as being almost positively true that ethanol is going to become huge, and that we are all not going to be able to go a day without hearing the word at least once.

As well, in regards to the future and ethanol, it should be known to all that about 10% of the gasoline that is sold in the US is actually a blend of up to 10% ethanol, which is an alcohol that is made by distilling corn, wheat, and sometimes sugar.

One of the problems with ethanol however is the fact that the straw and the stalks that are left after the distillation process get burned by farmers, and if you have ever smelled a sugar cane field that is burning after harvest, then you know that it smells incredibly bad, and you should know that not only does it smell bad, but it is completely unhealthy for you as well.

As well, something that people for the most part seem not to understand or are just ignoring, is the fact that the stalks, once they are squeezed out of all their sugar, are not totally useless as some would say, but rather they can be used for further things.

Basically the most important thing is that everyone learns as much about ethanol as they can before it is too late, so that we can all gain a proper and full understanding on what it is before we are mindlessly using it for various different things.

You bought a still, are making your own home brew in that backyard and want, through ethanol conversion, to start burning alcohol in your car. It may seem like a good plan as by distilling even one acre of corn into 200 proof alcohol and mixing it with gasoline to produce E-85 ethanol can provide enough fuel for a 5,000 mile trip.

However, before you go dumping alcohol into you gas tank and thinking that is all there is to ethanol conversion, consider that even the most efficient still only produces about 195 proof alcohol. To get that final five percent you are going to have to remove that last of the water by filtering it through zeolite. While this may sound overly technical and complicated, rest easy as zeolite is not all that expensive and a 10 pound bag can last almost forever, as it is reusable.

Allow the distilled alcohol to soak overnight in the zeolite, drain through a filter, and you have 200 proof alcohol. Still, do not pour it into your gas tank just yet, you are not ready for ethanol conversion as some modifications are need to the carburetor system. Not only that, but also some of the fuel system parts may be damaged or destroyed by alcohol. You will want to verify that the non-metal parts do not disintegrate with alcohol use and replace them with metal if needed.

Carburetor Rebuilding Will Be Necessary

Typically, fuel metering jets, that is the main jet, idle jets and accelerator pump nozzle will have to be larger by either replacing them with a larger size or machining them larger to an appropriate size for your vehicle. Other considerations as part of your ethanol conversion process are the fuel filter and fuel gauge.

Alcohol is a dirt remover and burning a mixture of 85 percent alcohol and 15 percent gasoline, will loosen dirt inside the fuel line. You will want to consider installing a filter between the tank and fuel pump and a second one between the pump and carburetor and monitor them closely the first few weeks.

Due to ethanol being heavier than gasoline by about eight percent, part of the ethanol conversion process should include an adjustment to the fuel gauge float. This can be by bending the float rod, or find a heavier float to assure accuracy in the gauge s fuel level reading.

Although homemade ethanol can certainly be a dangerous thing, it can also be a rather intriguing thing, and so in order to be able to understand everything about homemade ethanol in general, one must learn about how to make it, what is involved in the process, and more, as well as what the dangers are of homemade ethanol; only when all of these matters are discussed can a proper viewpoint be taken on the subject matter.

About Homemade Ethanol

In regards to the matter of homemade ethanol, basically there are several facts that should be taken into consideration, such as: the level of interest in using alcohol as motor fuel has followed cycles of fuel shortages and/or low feed-grain prices; alcohols burn more completely, thus increasing combustion efficiency; and that there are many disadvantages to using alcohols, particularly methyl and ethyl alcohol.

As well, ethanol, which is grain alcohol, can be made out of straw; and in fact the ability to make ethanol from straw rice straw, wheat straw, oat straw, etc.- is truly the modern day equivalent of the Holy Grail or the Philosopher s Stone, as in a time when barely any new oil fields have been discovered in the past ten years, and a war in Iraq rages with such madness that it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to pump oil for the next several years.

As well, intensive research on cellulose conversion to ethanol previously focused on that of mechanical, heat and acid hydrolysis techniques, all of which are expensive, and as well, it should be known however that cellulose ethanol truly has two unique advantages over conventional alcohol.

The first is that the greenhouse gas emission reductions from cellulose ethanol are three times greater than those from grain based ethanol on a life cycle basis, and second, cellulose ethanol is made from a plentiful and renewable resource, which is the non-food portion of agriculture crops.

The ethanol industry in general is truly growing at an incredible pace, and in fact, production was up nearly 23 percent compared to just last June when 180,000 b/d of ethanol was produced; the ethanol industry is also expected to produce more than 3.3 billion gallons in 2004, up from 2.81 gallons in 2003.

Overall it is quite easy to see that there is much to know about ethanol in general, and also that in order to be able to have a proper viewpoint on it altogether, we need to try and understand as much about it in general as we can.

The ethanol fuel cell is a matter which needs to be taken quite seriously into consideration, especially once you realize the fact that using ethanol as fuel and this directly surrounds the matter of the ethanol fuel cell is actually one of the most topics of conversation in the world today.

In fact, the largest single use of ethanol period is as motor fuel and fuel additive, and the largest national fuel ethanol industries exist in Brazil, and one of the most major methods of production is through fermentation of sugar; ethanol also creates very little pollution, which is absolutely a positive thing, and as well, millions of acres of land are going to be needed if ethanol is to be used to replace gasoline hence why the matter of ethanol fuel cell is so critical.

More About the Ethanol Fuel Cell

In regards to leaning more about the ethanol fuel cell in general, basically you need to know that a fuel cell is a device that can actually obtain 40 to 50% efficiency in the conversion of fuel into useable power; this technology is actually a by-product of the NASA space program, which was originally developed to provide a lightweight and efficient power source for use on manned space missions.

However, it was soon realized that this incredible technology could be used for numerous other reasons, and so it was thus eventually shared with the world, and now there is the fact that ethanol is being considered as being the most major option to a replacement for gasoline in the world; this is even more important considering the fact that we are presently in a war with Iraq and that for the most part this is also where we get our fuel from.

It should also be known that some fuel cells actually use specialized molecular sieves made of complex polymers with some type of anode/cathode properties, and then others use expensive platinum catalysts. Then there are those which use pure hydrogen as a fuel source in order to be able to make electricity, and some are designed to run on propane, but they then may only have a membrane life expectancy of about 3,000 hours.

Overall, we can see the importance of this issue, and understand now why we should take it much more seriously into consideration overall.