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Bioethanol is a liquid alcohol fuel, which can be produced from agricultural crops containing starch or sugar, such as maize, grain crops or sugar cane. Unlike alcohol used in liquor production, fuel ethanol contains no water, and is produced using a shorter distillation process (two distillation columns instead of five). As a result, it contains methanol, fusel oils and gasoline, which render it unsuitable for drinking.

 

Currently bioethanol production and consumption are growing worldwide, with the major producers located in North and South America. Brazil is the clear cut leader in ethanol production, but it is likely to yield the leading role to the USA in the near future. The EU has also launched a government programme for enhancing ethanol production. A law has been passed to the effect that biofuel (i.e. fuel from renewable sources) consumption should reach 5.75% of total by 2010; overall growth of ethanol production is sustained by Spain, France, Germany and Italy, who are vigorously increasing their production capacity.

 

In many European countries, including the Baltic states, adding 5% of ethanol in gasoline is exempt from tax.

 

Gasoline is the single largest source of artificial carcinogenic agents. Adding ethanol helps gasoline oxygenation, ensuring better combustion and 30% less carbon dioxide emissions. Toxic emissions are down by 30%, and volatile organic compounds – by more than 25%.

 

Ethanol is a high performance fuel with a research octane number of 108.

 

A mixture of gasoline and ethanol decreases soot and harmful agents deposits inside the engine, keeping it clean and ensuring better performance.

 

The E10 fuel blend, consisting of gasoline and ethanol, has been in use by American motorists for a quarter of a century. E10 contains up to 10 % of ethanol for regular cars and has been approved by all major auto manufacturers. All motorcycle, snowmobile, and outboard engine manufacturers allow adding up to 10% ethanol to the fuel.

 

E10 is suitable for all types of automobiles; it improves engine performance because it increases overall fuel octane number by 2 to 3 rating units, thus upgrading fuel anti-knock properties. E10 helps prevent engine overheating, fuel line freezing and keeps fuel injection nozzle clean.

 

Ethanol is used to produce ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), which is far less toxic than methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).

 

 

Specification of bioethanol (pdf, 70Kb)