Ethanol Emissions

Defining Ethanol

Most might not realize it, but they know what ethanol is. It is grain alcohol, the same kind found in liquor, wine, and beer. Since it is made by fermenting and then distilling starch and sugar crops such as potatoes, maize, sorghum, wheat, sugar cane, cornstalks, fruit, and vegetable waste, it is defined as a renewable energy source. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ethanol is described by the following:

• Liquid
• Clear
• Colorless
• Has an agreeable odor

The Benefits of Ethanol

Ethanol is a high octane fuel and also holds the following characteristics:

• It replaces lead as an octane enhancer in gasoline.
• When blended with gasoline, the octane rating of the petrol goes up by three full points, and no harmful additives are used.
• Adding ethanol to gasoline oxygenates the fuel so that it burns more completely and reduces polluting emissions such as carbon monoxide.
• Ethanol and ETBE oxygenator, made from ethanol, are safer than the toxic and polluting MTBE (which is a fossil-fuel-derived oxygenator) used by oil companies.
• It is made of plants and therefore, is a renewable resource.
• Manufacturing and burning it does not increase the greenhouse effect.
• It is biodegradable and has no harmful effects to the environment.
• It reduces harmful exhaust emissions.
• Certain blends of it reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 20 percent.
• It can reduce net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100 percent on a full life-cycle basis.
• High-level ethanol blends can decreases Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions by 30 percent or more.
• When used as an enhancer, ethanol can cut emissions of cancer-causing benzene and butadiene by more than 50 percent.
• Sulphur dioxide emissions are decreased with ethanol.

Will green pumps soon be everywhere?

Ethanol on the Rise

With all of these positive characteristics, and especially the fact that ethanol emissions are not at all harmful to humans, animals, or to the environment, it is no wonder the demand for this fuel source is growing. Programs to increase both the supply and the demand for ethanol are being developed in parts of California, other states and in many countries around the world.

Producing Your Own Ethanol

Can you make your own ethanol? Yes! Many are making their own ethanol in their backyards and using it to run their vehicles. To make your own clean-burning fuel, you will need:

• A still
• Grain or crops to use
• Knowledge on how to ferment beer
• A small fuel producer permit from the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Ethanol is an Efficient Fuel

A study by the Institute of Local Self-Reliance in the U.S. found that when the most ideal farming and production techniques were used the amount of energy contained in a gallon of ethanol is more than twice the energy used to grow the corn and convert it to ethanol.

The non-profit American Coalition for Ethanol claims that ethanol production is energy efficient with a positive energy balance of 125 percent. The production of gasoline has a positive energy balance of only 85 percent. This means that ethanol production is by far the most efficient method of producing liquid fuels for vehicles.

Controversy

While the majority of information dealing with the topic of ethanol emissions is upbeat, there are those, mostly scientists, who are still debating the tailpipe emissions of ethanol. They wonder if ethanol reduces the green house effect. However, even those critical of ethanol usage seem to agree that overall, the entire cycle of producing ethanol over gasoline, and using it in vehicles, is by far more eco-friendly. Debates will be sure to continue as we head into the future.