Category: ethanol

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.

United States ethanol refiners are expanding capacities as its use as a motor vehicle fuel increases and more mandates are put in place by the federal government. With the current push for less reliance on foreign oil, as well as less dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, ethanol expansion as an additive in gasoline and diesel fuel has seen tremendous manufacturing growth in recent years.

With just over 100 ethanol refineries in production in 2006, there are 56 more refineries under construction to help meet the government s mandate to push the amount of ethanol used as a fuel to 7.5 billion gallons as soon as 2012. The current speed of ethanol expansion should be able to exceed that demand. The cost of ethanol hinges on the rise and fall of corn prices, and after years of closely following the prices of gasoline, the wholesale cost as now falling behind that of oil-based gasoline.

Initially, refiners were reluctant to pursue ethanol expansion as the demand was low and there were not many facilities selling ethanol-blended gasoline to the public. As more and more people realize the economic and environmental advantages, ethanol expansion plans were quickly put into place.

Corn Production Must Also Rise

With the demands in place for more refining facilities, ethanol expansion will depend largely on an increase in corn production. The government s Renewable Fuel Standard has virtually guaranteed a 7.5 billion gallon market for ethanol by 2012, but there are no provisions in the standard for the increase in corn production. The refining capacity may be able to hit the goal with ease, but without enough of the basic ingredient, production will have to stand idle.

The industry is also sharing its results with other industries by siphoning the byproducts of ethanol such as that used as a nail polish remover. Distilled vinegar, usually used in pickling in the food industry, is another byproduct of ethanol production and could have the prices affected by the ethanol expansion program. A rise in sugar prices has been blames on ethanol production is Brazil which uses sugar instead of corn.

California, the state with the strictest air-quality regulations, currently uses a blend of just over five percent ethanol and is pushing for that level to rise to 7.7 percent ethanol content in the near future. Other cites under fire by Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions are also looking the ethanol expansion to have additional supplies available to use as a vehicle fuel.