What is Ethanol?

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, EtOH) is a high octane, liquid, domestic and renewable fuel, produced by the fermentation of plant starches and sugars. It is a clear, colorless liquid. Ethanol is a molecule whose chemical composition is CH3CH2OH.  It is the same compound that is used in alcoholic beverages and as a disinfectant or solvent.  For use as a fuel, it is denatured – rendered undrinkable – by adding a small amount of gasoline. In the United States, ethanol is typically produced from corn and other grain products, although in the future it may also be economically produced from other renewable resources such as agricultural and forestry wastes or specially grown energy crops.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 originally mandated the sale of oxygenated fuels in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. Since that time, ethanol use has grown owning to concerns about the safety of other oxygenates, specifically, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and the value of ethanol as a fuel extender (E10) or fuel source (E85).  In the United States last year, over 7 billion gallons were added to gasoline to increase the octane level, to  improve the emissions quality, and to provide consumers with an affordable alternative to conventional gasoline

Blends of at least 85% ethanol are considered alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that are currently offered by most major auto manufacturers. FFVs can run on gasoline, E85, or any combination of the two and qualify as alternative fuel vehicles under EPAct regulations. In most areas, ethanol is blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline).

Ethanol as a fuel:

• Reduces the incidence of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Promotes energy independence.
• Provides growers with an alternative market for their grain
• Is biodegradable and does not contaminate the water supply
• Can be produced from a number of different feedstocks including paper and agricultural waste.